体坛英语新闻：Goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand extends contract with Schalke

BERLIN, May 8 (Xinhua) -- German Bundesliga side Schalke 04 and goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand agreed on a contract extension until 2012, the club said on their official homepage on Tuesday.

"Timo Hildebrand has helped us in the last season in a very difficult situation and he proved that you can rely on him at all sportive challenges," Schalke chairman of Sports and Communication Horst Heldt said.

Schalke has now three goalkeepers under contract with Rolf Faehrmann, Lars Unnerstall and Timo Hildebrandt.

"Our plans for this position are now completed," added Heldt.

Schalke signed the former German international in October 2011, when he was out of contract, as a consequence of the injury by starting goalie Ralf Faehrmann.

"I am delighted to continue at Schalke as I feel very comfortable here. For me the contract in October was a huge opportunity," Hildebrand said.

In the past season Hildebrand made six Bundesliga matches and five UEFA Europa League games. At the Europa League quarterfinal Hildebrand suffered an elbow injury meaning the end of the season for him.

The 33-year-old goalkeeper turned professional at Stuttgart where he won the Bundesliga title in 2007.