Claudio Pizarro returns to Werder

Werder through and through: Claudio Pizarro will wear Green & White once again this season (photo: nph)
First Team
Monday, 07.09.2015 / 08:57

Claudio Pizarro has returned to SV Werder Bremen. The most prolific foreign striker in Bundesliga history has signed until the end of the season, with his contract set to expire on...

Claudio Pizarro has returned to SV Werder Bremen. The most prolific foreign striker in Bundesliga history has signed until the end of the season, with his contract set to expire on 30th June 2016. Monday morning will see the 36-year-old forward complete a medical ahead of his third move to the Green-Whites, who he also joined in 1999 and 2008. A press conference will follow from 12:30 CEST at the Weser-Stadion to officially unveil Pizarro as a Werder player, as sporting director Thomas Eichin confirmed.

"After his contract expired at FC Bayern, we played around with the idea of getting Claudio back on board. We've intensified talks in recent days to have an honest exchange of ideas and expectations. We're delighted that Claudio is prepared to join our new path and play his part. He knows our philosophy with our many young players and wants to help develop the team in whatever way he can," said Thomas Eichin. 

Pizarro: "An exciting prospect"

Pizarro landed at Bremen airport and was very warmly received by the Werder Bremen (Photo: nph).

Manager Viktor Skripnik is looking forward to linking up with old friend Pizarro, who he played with at Bremen between 1999 and 2001. "There is no doubting his ability, and he will also bring a lot to the team on a personal level. It is now important that we give him every opportunity to get to know the team on the pitch."

Pizarro, who will wear the number 14 shirt on his SVW comeback, was motivated to return because he is sentimental about the club. "I am happy to be back. The prospect of striving for success at this club is very exciting. I hope that my being here will help the team a lot. As a young player, I benefited myself from a similar situation where we signed Julio Cesar. Now I am looking forward to this transitional period and playing with a new team."

The most prolific foreign goalscorer in the Bundesliga

Assistant manager Torsten Frings played with Pizarro for Bremen (Photo: nph).

Claudio Pizarro has worn the Green & White of Werder Bremen twice before. In 1999, the then 20-year-old striker moved to SVW from his home country of Peru, where he was playing for Alianza Lima. After having two successful years, he left for Bayern Munich. In 2008, Pizarro returned for his second spell at Werder after playing for Chelsea. In 2009, he celebrated winning the DFB Cup with Bremen. In 2012 he went back to Bayern, and during his second term at the club, he won the treble in 2013, in what is his greatest sporting achievement.

In total, he has won six Bundesliga titles in 383 games, including 159 appearances for Bremen, and six DFB Cups. He is not only the foreign player with the most appearances in the Bundesliga, but is also the foreign player with the most goals, with 176 goals including 89 for SVW. Pizarro has also made 73 Champions League appearances scoring 21 goals, 31 Europa League appearances also scoring 21 goals, and 49 DFB Cup appearances scoring 28 goals. This summer he captained Peru to the semi-final of the Copa America. The father of three has won Germany's Goal of the Month award four times and was the top scorer in the 2009/10 Europa League campaign with Werder.

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