I lost - World Cup winner retires from football at 37

Former Germany defender bids farewell

Jerome Boateng, a key figure in Germany’s 2014 FIFA World Cup triumph, has officially announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 37.

The veteran defender confirmed the decision on Friday in a one-minute farewell video posted to his social media accounts.

“I played for a long time, for big clubs, for my country. I learned, won, lost, and grew through it all,” Boateng reflected.

He said, “Football has given me a lot, now it’s time to move on. Not because I have to, but because I’m ready.”

Gratitude to fans and family

In the emotional clip, which featured highlights from his career, Boateng expressed gratitude to those who supported him along the way.

“I’m grateful to the teams, the fans, the people who supported me. And above all, my family, my children. They’ve always been there for me,” he said.

Boateng‘s career

Boateng earned 76 caps for Germany, scoring once. He was part of the squad that lifted the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and also played a key role in Germany’s runs at major tournaments across a decade.

At club level, Boateng enjoyed the most successful spell of his career with Bayern Munich, where he spent a decade after joining from Manchester City in 2011.

He won nine Bundesliga titles and two UEFA Champions League trophies (2013 and 2020) during his time in Bavaria, cementing his place as one of the club’s most decorated defenders.

Born in Berlin, Boateng rose through the Hertha Berlin academy alongside his half-brother Kevin-Prince Boateng, who also went on to have a notable career.

After spells with Hamburg and Manchester City, Jerome established himself at Bayern as one of Europe’s leading centre-backs.

Since leaving the German giants in 2021, Boateng’s career took him across Europe, with stints at Lyon in France, Salernitana in Italy, and most recently LASK in Austria.