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Agent: Illgner will retire in 2001

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Posted: Saturday October 10, 1998 02:10 PM

Illgner has won 54 caps for Germany and joined Real Madrid in 1996 Ben Radford/Allsport

MADRID, Spain (Reuters) -- Real Madrid goalkeeper and German international Bodo Illgner will carry on playing until 2001 and then retire, his wife and agent said Saturday.

Bianca Illgner is negotiating with the European champions to extend the contract of her husband, which finishes at the end of this season.

"At the end of his present contract with Real Madrid, Bodo will play on for two more years and then we are retiring," said Bianca, FIFA accredited players' representative.

"He'll be 34 then and I think he'll still be in great shape but it is an ideal moment to leave soccer," she added.

Illgner, 31, has won 54 caps for Germany and joined Real Madrid in 1996 after a decade with FC Koln.

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