Germany Midfield Dynamo Schweinsteiger Retires

Former Germany midfielder and Bayern Munich legend Bastian Schweinsteiger announced his retirement from football at the age of 35.

The decorated midfield maestro spent a majority of his career with European giants Bayern Munich, where he won eight Bundesliga titles and seven German cups as well as the Champions league in 2013.

The 35-year-old made over 300 appearances for the Bavarian side, scoring 45 goals from 2002-2015.

After leaving Bayern Munich in 2015, Schweinsteiger made 18 appearances for Manchester United and won the League Cup and the FA Cup in the same year.

He winded up his career with Major League Soccer’s Chicago Fire with 85 appearances and 8 goals.

“Dear fans, the time has now come, and I will be finishing my active career at the end of this season. And of course, I would like to thank my wife Ana Ivanovic and my family for their support. I am also looking forward to the exciting challenges that await me soon. I will remain faithful to football.” he wrote on social media posts.

In his debut MLS season, Schweinsteiger was named the club’s player of the season in 2018.

The German who was part of the 2014 World Cup winning side netted 24 times for his national side in 121 appearances.

German national team coach Joachim Löw spoke glowingly of his former midfield work horse whose never say die attitude pushed the Germany team to the 2014 World Cup title and further described Schweinsteiger as “one of the greatest players that Germany has ever had”.

“He fought until he dropped. You could sense his will to win in everything he did.” recalled Low nostalgically.

Schweinsteiger Career In Numbers

3 clubs (Bayern, Man U, Chicago)

663 apps

80 goals

113 assists

20 titles won

Treble winner  

World Cup winner

Germany’s Player of the year 

FC Bayern’s Hall of Fame

By Gerald Dandah