(FILES) This file photo taken on December 12, 2015 shows Bayern Munich's defender Philipp Lahm celebrates after the second goal for Munich during the German first division Bundesliga football match FC Bayern Munich vs FC Ingolstadt 04 in Munich, southern Germany. Germany weekly sports magazine Sports Bild reported on on February 7, 2017 Bayern Munich's defender Philipp Lahm will retire at the end of the season and also that he would not be taking the position of Sports Director at the club.<br />CHRISTOF STACHE / AFP
Bayern Munich’s captain Philipp Lahm will retire at the end of the season and leave the Bundesliga leaders having rejected a role as sports director, according to a report.
German magazine Sport Bild says in its Wednesday edition that the 33-year-old, who made his 500th appearance for Bayern last Saturday, will hang up his boots in June — despite having a year left on his contract.
He has apparently also rejected the vacant sports director role because it would not have included a place on Bayern’s board following recent restructuring at the club.
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Lahm has reportedly already told Bayern of his decision, but president Uli Hoeness refused to confirm or deny the report after Tuesday’s 1-0 German Cup win over Wolfsburg.
“I have to stick to what we have defined in the discussions with him (Lahm) and his adviser,” Hoeness told broadcaster ARD.
“He still has a contract, so I can’t say anything about his future.
“When there is something to report, there will be a joint announcement.”
Chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge had hinted last November that the club wanted Lahm to fill the role vacated by Matthias Sammer last year.
Borussia Moenchengladbach’s sports director Max Eberl is now reportedly the favourite to take the job.
Lahm retired from international football after captaining Germany to the 2014 World Cup title in Brazil after making 113 appearances for die Mannschaft.
He joined Bayern as an 11-year-old in 1995 and skippered the Bavarian giants to their 2013 Champions League win at Wembley.
That season, they became the first German club to complete the treble of Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup.
He has won the Bundesliga seven times and the German Cup on a further six occasions.
Source: G Sport
