Germany Captain Philipp Lahm Ends International Career
Philipp Lahm, who picked up the last of his 113 caps in the 1-0 World Cup final victory over Argentina on Sunday, will continue playing for club side Bayern Munich.
Germany captain Philipp Lahm has quit international soccer just days after leading his side to World Cup victory in Brazil.
"It is the right time for me. I have totally enjoyed my time with the national team," the 30-year-old was quoted as saying on Sky Sport Deutschland's Twitter feed on Friday.
The shock news was confirmed by the German soccer federation (DFB) website (www.dfb.de).
DFB president Wolfgang Niersbach said: "Philipp called me this morning and personally told me the news. Very quickly into the conversation I realised that it was futile to try to change his mind.
"He was not only an outstanding player in his 10 years with the national team but always a perfect role model. I thanked him for all that he has done for the DFB."
Lahm, who picked up the last of his 113 caps in the 1-0 World Cup final victory over Argentina on Sunday, will continue playing for club side Bayern Munich.
"There is hardly a better farewell than to be a world champion at the peak of your career," Bayernchairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said of Lahm's resignation on the club website.
"But for the national team, it will not be easy to replace Lahm as a player, captain and a man." (Also read: Germany's Triumph a Result of Team Work, Says Lahm)