German legend and all-time leading scorer in World Cup finals, Miroslav Klose has retired from active football after a long and successful career.
Klose, who is Germany’s all-time top-scorer, resigned after leaving Italian club, Lazio, at the end of the 2015-16 campaign at the expiration of his contract.
He was over the past few months contacted by clubs from Major League Soccer, MLS and former club Kaiserslautern but opted to retire instead and take up a position with Germany’s national team.
The 38-year-old will be joining German coach, Joachim Low’s back room staff, understudying the coach and sporting director Hansi Flick with an eye on a future coaching career.
He told the DFB website, “I enjoyed my biggest successes with the national team. It was a great time and unforgettable for me. That’s why I am happy to return to the DFB.
“Over the past few months, the idea of staying on the pitch in another position, as a coach, got into my mind. I already enjoyed developing tactics, preparing for games and reading the game during my playing days.
“I am grateful to Jogi Low and Hansi Flick that they are offering me this opportunity.”
Klose, who began his professional football career with his home side, Homburg, also laced his boots for Kaiserslautern, Werder Bremen, Bayern Munich and Lazio.
He won two Bundesliga titles and two DFB-Pokals with Bayern Munich, also winning the Bundesliga top-scorer award in 2005-06.
Klose made 137 appearances for Germany – with only Lothar Matthaus winning more caps – and scored an impressive 71 goals to become his country’s all-time top goal scorer.
In 2014, he won the World Cup with Germany, but the team finished as a runner-up in 2002.
Klose also has the record of the all-time top scorer at World Cup finals, with 16 goals in four tournaments.
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