WC winner Lahm calls time on career

AFP, BERLIN: Germany’s World Cup winning captain Philipp Lahm on Tuesday confirmed he will retire at the end of the season and leave Bayern Munich, having rejected a role as sports director.
“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.”
Lahm explained why he has turned down the vacant sports director role, which would not have included a place on Bayern’s board following recent restructuring at the club.
“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,” he said. “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.”
The 33-year-old made his 500th appearance for Bayern last Saturday and will hang up his boots in June despite having a year left on his contract.
Lahm retired from international football after captaining Germany to the 2014 World Cup title in Brazil and making 113 appearances for die Mannschaft.

WC winner Lahm calls time on career

AFP, BERLIN: Germanys World Cup winning captain Philipp Lahm on Tuesday confirmed he will retire at the end of the season and leave Bayern Munich, having rejected a role as sports director. I have decided to stop playing football at the end of the season, Lahm said after Bayerns 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. Lahm explained why he has turned down the vacant sports director role, which would not have included a place on Bayerns board following recent restructuring at the club. There were discussions and at the end of those I decided that its not the right time for me to step up with FC Bayern, he said. Ill be a private person again in the summer, then Ill have time to take care of other things and to have a few conversations. The 33-year-old made his 500th appearance for Bayern last Saturday and will hang up his boots in June despite having a year left on his contract. Lahm retired from international football after captaining Germany to the 2014 World Cup title in Brazil and making 113 appearances for die Mannschaft.