Bayern Captain Philip Lahm To Retire At End Of Season
Philipp Lahm, Bayern Munich captain[/caption]
Bayern Munich captain Philipp Lahm will retire from football at the end of the season, the 33-year-old announced on Tuesday.
The World Cup winner, regarded as one of the greatest defenders of his generation, won 501 caps for Bayern since making his senior debut in 2002, and is set to bring an end to a blistering career at the end of June, despite having a year left on his contract.
The right full back said he rejected an offer from the club to become a sporting director.
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“I have decided to stop playing football at the end of the season,” Lahm said after Bayern’s 1-0 win over Wolfsburg in the third round of the German Cup.
“I am sure I can keep putting in the performances until the end of the season, but not after that,” added the Bayern captain, confirming an earlier press report.
“I first thought about the decision over a year ago and have been constantly checking it.
“I love football and it has given me a lot, but everything has to eventually come to an end and I wanted to decide that myself.”
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“There were discussions and at the end of those I decided that it’s not the right time for me to step up with FC Bayern.
“I’ll be a private person again in the summer, then I’ll have time to take care of other things and to have a few conversations.”
Lahm has won seven Bundesliga titles with the club, as well as the Champions League.
He captained Germany to the 2014 World Cup title in Brazil, making 113 appearances for Die Mannschaft, before retiring from international football after the tournament.
