Philipp Lahm to end career as professional footballer

Bayern Munich legend Philipp Lahm said on Thursday (May 18) that he is looking forward to his retirement to spend more free time and plan his personal life in better fashion.

Lahm will play his final match for the Bundesliga champions on Saturday (May 20) in the season finale against Freiburg – nearly 15 years after he made his debut for the club. The player had been a product of its youth team system and spent some time with the club’s reserve side and on loan at Stuttgart before becoming a regular squad member of the senior team from late 2005.

“Second to last training today and what great weather! We’ll see about tomorrow. After that I’m just looking forward to the match on Saturday, and all the things that’ll also happen. The last moments with the team, with the entire team, with the caretakers, the coaches, the co-workers, the fans. Afterwards the party at the Marienplatz Square. It certainly will be an exciting day for me. I am looking forward to it and I’m excited what will happen,” Lahm told news reporters.

The match is set to be an occasion to celebrate the 33-year-old defender’s time at the club, since the championship is already wrapped up by Bayern.

The German football league praised Lahm for his dedication to the team. DFL president Reinhard Rauball called him one of the most outstanding players in German football history.

Lahm left open the door of a return some time down the line, refusing to rule out a potential return in the future.