Jerome Boateng, a veteran of German national football, has announced his retirement from professional play. The announcement came via a video posted on his Instagram account on Friday, where he stated, “Football has given me so much. Now it is time to move on.
The 36-year-old defender, a key figure in Germany’s 2014 World Cup-winning squad, most recently played for Linzer ASK, having mutually terminated his contract with the club in August.
Boateng’s distinguished career included stints with Hamburger SV and Manchester City, but he is most closely associated with FC Bayern Munich, where he played for a decade, contributing to 229 appearances.
A mainstay in the German national team, Boateng earned 76 caps and scored one goal during his international career, culminating in the triumph at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. His departure marks the end of a significant career in German and international football.