Lahm to retire at end of the season

Bayern Munich captain Philipp Lahm will retire from football at the end of the 2016-17 Bundesliga campaign.

Under contract until 2018, Lahm announced his plan to quit ahead of schedule in the wake of Tuesday’s 1-0 DFB-Pokal win over Wolfsburg, having celebrated his 500th club appearance against Schalke on Saturday.

“I will retire at the end of the season,” the 33-year-old confirmed when asked about his future.

“More than a year ago I started checking and questioning myself from day to day and week to week. I’m certain I’ll maintain peak form through to the end of the season. I can manage that until the end of the campaign, but not beyond it.”

Bayern were keen to name Lahm as the club’s new sporting director ahead of next season, but the right-back has opted to take a sabbatical instead.

Thanks for the memories, Captain! Good luck for the rest of the season with @FCBayernEN and enjoy your retirement, @philipplahm. pic.twitter.com/RYIw7sLG67

— Germany (@DFB_Team_EN) February 7, 2017

“I have decided that it is not the right moment yet to take the job as sporting director,” he added.

Lahm came through the ranks of the Bayern youth academy and spent his entire career bar a two-year loan with Stuttgart at the Allianz Arena.

He has won seven Bundesliga titles, six DFB-Pokals, the Champions League and the Club World Cup with Bayern.

The defender also captained Germany to 2014 World Cup glory as they beat Argentina 1-0 in the final, before retiring from international football after the tournament.