The German footballer who won the 2014 World Cup and lifted 22 trophies with Bayern Munich has announced his retirement.
His international career had ended some time ago, and he had been without a club recently. Instead of searching for a new team, Jérôme Boateng has decided to call time on his journey and announced his retirement from professional football.
The last time he appeared for Germany was in 2018. At club level, he most recently played for Austrian side LASK Linz, with whom he had a contract until 2026. However, on August 19, the contract was mutually terminated. Exactly a month later, the 37-year-old defender announced his farewell.
During his 18-year professional career, Boateng played for seven clubs. But in the football world, he is best known as “Boateng of Bayern.” In 2011, he joined Germany’s biggest club from Manchester City. Over ten years there, he won nine Bundesliga titles, two Champions League trophies and two Club World Cups, among 22 titles in total.
For Germany, he played 76 matches. The centre-back was an integral part of the 2014 World Cup-winning team in Brazil, and he was also in the squad that finished third at the 2010 World Cup.
After leaving Bayern in 2021, he spent two seasons at Olympique Lyon. He then moved to Italy’s Salernitana before joining LASK last year.
Although he has been without a club for the past month, uncertainty at this age was to be expected. Yet Boateng insists he is retiring not out of obligation, but out of readiness.
“I have played for a long time, for big clubs, for my country. I have learned, I have won, I have lost, and all of it has enriched me.”
“Football has given me so much, but now it’s time to look ahead. Not because I am forced to, but because I am ready. I am grateful to the teams, the supporters and the people who pushed me forward, and above all to my family and children. They have always been by my side.”
Last year, following a legal process over accusations of domestic violence against his former partner, Boateng was fined and warned, although he denied the allegations.
