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SC Freiburg have officially extended the contract of veteran right-back Lukas Kübler. The 34-year-old has committed his future to the Bundesliga leaders after more than eleven years with the club. Freiburg, as is customary, have declined to disclose the precise duration of the new agreement. Kübler remains one of the longest-serving and most dependable members of head coach Julian Schuster’s squad.
Only captain Christian Günter has spent more time at Freiburg among the current squad members. Kübler, who joined the Breisgau club in 2015, has registered 247 competitive appearances, scoring 17 goals and providing eight assists. The Bonn native also serves on Freiburg’s team council and has developed a remarkable habit of contributing important goals despite operating primarily as a defender.
Lukas Kübler’s remarkable goalscoring exploits
Kübler enjoyed an extraordinary 2024/25 Bundesliga campaign, scoring five goals and recording two separate braces. Both doubles came in home victories against fellow Bundesliga clubs.
His first arrived on the opening matchday of the season against VfB Stuttgart. Playing in Schuster’s Bundesliga coaching debut, Kübler helped overturn an early deficit following former Freiburg striker Ermedin Demirović’s spectacular second-minute opener.
The veteran full-back equalized with an impressive drive into the far corner from outside the penalty area in the 26th minute. After Ritsu Doan put Freiburg ahead early in the second half, Kübler rose to head home a Vincenzo Grifo corner in the 61st minute, completing his brace and securing a 3-1 victory.
Kübler repeated the trick against VfL Wolfsburg in December. Two Grifo corners again provided the foundation for the goals. Kübler reacted quickest to a loose ball in the penalty area to break the deadlock in the 42nd minute before heading home another set-piece delivery shortly after halftime. Freiburg eventually prevailed 3-2.
The unlikely goalscoring exploits became something of a running theme in Kübler’s career. Indeed, Get German Football News’ 2025/26 Freiburg tactical preview jokingly placed the over/under on another season’s worth of Kübler braces at two. The veteran certainly managed to deliver one more brace in the following campaign. And it was arguably the most important of his career.
Kübler’s historic Europa League brace against Braga
Kübler played a decisive role in Freiburg’s historic run to the 2025/26 UEFA Europa League final. The 33-year-old at the time scored twice in Freiburg’s spectacular 3-1 semifinal second-leg victory over Sporting Braga on May 7, helping Schuster’s team overturn a 2-1 first-leg defeat and advance 4-3 on aggregate.
His first goal arrived in the 19th minute after Braga failed to clear a Grifo corner. Kübler collected the loose ball and forced it home via a deflection off Jean-Baptiste Gorby. Johan Manzambi subsequently extended Freiburg’s lead with a magnificent curling effort before halftime.
With the tie still delicately balanced, Kübler struck again in the 72nd minute. This time, the German defender produced an excellent header from a Grifo free kick to establish a three-goal advantage on the night.
Braga subsequently pulled one back, but Freiburg held on to reach the first European final in club history. Kübler earned a rating of nine out of ten in GGFN‘s post-match assessment, sharing the highest numerical mark with Noah Atubolu and Manzambi.
Kübler remains an important Freiburg contributor
The goals have continued during the current campaign. Kübler was among the scorers in Freiburg’s 5-1 DFB-Pokal first-round victory away at Fortuna Düsseldorf in August.
As detailed in GGFN‘s comprehensive 2026/27 Freiburg tactical preview, the veteran benefited from Schuster’s switch to a two-striker formation during the second half. A Derry Scherhant cross eventually reached Lucas Höler, who laid the ball off for Kübler to finish Freiburg’s third goal in the 74th minute.
The defender even managed to steer the ball into the net with his shoulder.
Kübler remained influential during Thursday evening’s 3-2 Conference League victory over FK Jablonec. Returning to the starting lineup amid seven changes made by Schuster, the right-back nearly scored another European goal in the 12th minute when he headed a Cyriaque Irié cross against the crossbar.
He subsequently headed another opportunity over the target before making an important contribution to the winning goal. In the 65th minute, Kübler reacted to a blocked Freiburg effort and laid the ball into the path of Maximilian Eggestein, who hammered home Freiburg’s third goal.
The performance offered another reminder of Kübler’s enduring value to the Bundesliga leaders. Although Philipp Treu provides competition at right-back, the veteran continues to demonstrate that he can deliver whenever Schuster calls upon him.
Freiburg’s decision to extend his contract ensures that one of the club’s most familiar faces will remain part of the ongoing project.
Statements on Lukas Kübler’s contract extension
“It’s a good feeling to sense the development of this team and to be part of that development,” Kübler noted in Freiburg’s official announcement. “The club has grown close to my heart. I wouldn’t have imagined that eleven years ago. I want to continue bringing passion and earnestness onto the pitch, as well as a little lightheartedness into the locker room.”
“On the sporting side, Kübi is someone we can absolutely rely on,” sporting executive Klemens Hartenbach added. “He brings complete passion and identification with the club every single day. Either he’s playing himself or he’s pushing his teammates. We’re delighted to continue along this path with one of the cornerstones of our team.”
GGFN | Peter Weis
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