Bayern Munich captain Philipp Lahm has revealed that he will retire from football in 2018.
The German World Cup winning skipper - who called time on international football last summer following his country's success in Brazil - has now confirmed that he has just three seasons left in the professional game at club level too. He feels that by 2018 the time will be right to hang up his boots, even while he'll be just 34 at the end of the 2017/18 season.
Lahm came through the ranks at Bayern and for a number of years was considered the world's best right back. During the past two seasons Bayern boss Pep Guardiola even shifted the 31-year-old into a central midfield role, citing him as the most intelligent player he has ever trained in his career. However, so far this season Lahm has returned to Bayern's back line to solidify the club's defence.
Bayern are putting the wheels in motion to transition their team - with the likes of Lahm, Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben all over the ages of 30 - and have now been told exactly when Lahm will leave the club for a new chapter in his life.
Lahm told: "Once again, it is most clear to me that I am going to finish (my career) in 2018.
"I'll then be 34. It is good to be able to prepare for such a date. Even with the national team I inwardly prepared myself long before my departure - that is why I am still 100 percent behind the decision and have never regretted the step.
Lahm also believes that team mate Ribery should not be written off, and he has backed the Frenchman to get back to his best after a long time out injured: "I am convinced of that. Anyone who depreciates Franck, making a big mistake.
"We are here as a team for him and build him up. And he is 100 percent motivated. It's not that he hangs his head. I am quite sure that he will regain his top form. Especially at the end of last season we saw that if we want to reach our big goals we need players like Franck."