Defender Stranzel extends stay at Monchengladbach

Monchengladbach, Dec 23: Defender Martin Stranzl will stay with Borussia Monchengladbach until June 2016, the club announced Monday.

Monchengladbach reacted on the departure of Christoph Kramer to Bayer Leverkusen as they extended the expiring contract for one year to bind the former Austrian international until June 2016, reports Xinhua.

"Martin is important for our team. We are thus delighted that we were able to bind him for another year," Monchengladbach’s director of sport Max Eberl said.

Stranzl, 34, joined the Bundesliga side from FC Spartak Moscow during the winter break of 2010-2011. He has made overall 105 appearances and scored five goals since his arrival.

"I feel very comfortable at Monchengladbach. Therefore I am pleased to be able to play another year for Borussia," Stranzl said.

Monchengladbach completed the first half of the season on the fourth place, an UEFA Champions League play-off spot, with 18 points adrift of front-runners Bayern Munich.