- Title: Philipp Lahm ends his career as a professional football player at the weekend
- Date: 18th May 2017
- Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (FILE - JUNE 15, 2014) (AGENCY POOL) CROWD VARIOUS OF LAHM AND PLAYER PRESENTING TROPHY
- Embargoed: 1st June 2017 14:37
- Keywords: Freiburg Bayern Munich Germany career Philipp Lahm
- Location: BERLIN, KLEINHELFENDORF NEAR AYING AND MUNICH, GERMANY
- City: BERLIN, KLEINHELFENDORF NEAR AYING AND MUNICH, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA0056HD54QN
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: 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.
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. - Copyright Holder: POOL (CAN SELL)
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