Philipp Lahm lifting the World Cup trophy.
Auf Wiedersehen kapitän Philipp Lahm. In English, that means goodbye captain Philipp Lahm.
On Friday, the consistent right-back announced his retirement from international football. The 30-year-old captained Germany to its first World Cup triumph in 24 years. He played every minute of every game Nationalmannschaft played.
As always, the versatile defender was excellent in Brazil. He played the first few games as a holding midfielder and was very effective. He moved back to his familiar right-back position and was influential as German humiliated the host nation 7-1. He had two assists in that game.
“Over the course of last season, I made my mind up that I was going to end my international career after the World Cup,” Lahm said. “I informed Germany coach Joachim Low of this decision on Monday at breakfast. I am grateful and thankful that the end of my career coincides with winning the World Cup in Brazil with the national team.
“This morning, I bid farewell to DFB [German football association] president Wolfgang Niersbach and expressed my thanks to him for the excellent collaboration with the coaching team of Joachim Low, Hansi Flick, Andy Kopke and general manager Oliver Bierhoff as well as the entire team and all DFB employees for the past ten years.
“I have been on my holidays for three days and here I have the peace and time to conclude my international career also in my mind. Many heartfelt thanks for a wonderful time! Yours,Philipp Lahm.”
DFB president Wolfgang Niersbach tried to convince the legendary right-back to change his mind, but Lahm had his mind made up.
Niersbach said: “Philipp called me this morning and informed me personally of this step. During our conversation, I realised very quickly that it would have made no sense trying to talk him out of his decision.
“He was not only an exceptional player for the national team in these 10 years, but was always a role model. I have thanked him for everything that he has achieved for the DFB.”
Lahm was handed die Mannschaft’s armband right before the 2010 World Cup, because the previous captain, Michael Ballack, was going to miss the tournament due to injury.
The defender has loyally served his country since 2004. During his ten year international, he played 113 games – becoming Germany’s fourth most capped player ‒ and scored five goals.
Lukas Podolski, one of the men with more international caps than Lahm, took to Twitter to express his gratitude.
The Arsenal forward tweeted, “Ten years in the national team, three years for Bayern – Philipp It was a pleasure to play in one team with you.”
Now that he’s officially done with international, Lahm will focus on winning more silverware with Bayern Munich. The right-back has worn his hometown club’s color since he became a professional footballer.
He has won six Bundelisga titles, six DFB-Pokal titles, one FIFA Club World Cup trophy and two seasons ago, he lifted the prestigious UEFA Champions League trophy.
“There’s hardly a better way to bid farewell than calling it a day as world champion, at the pinnacle of your career,” Bayern’s chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said. “It’s not going to be easy for the national team to replace Lahm as a player, person and captain.” The DFB are aware of how hard that undertaking is going to be, although they have accepted it is something they will now have to attempt.
The only time Lahm wore another team’s color was during his successful two-season loan spell with VfB Stuttgart.
Even though Germany is packed with excellent young talents, the team will definitely miss Lahm’s leadership and solid defensive work.