Philipp Lahm confirms he will retire at the end of season

Last weekend Lahm made his 500th appearance for Bayern, having joined their academy in 1995.

However despite only being 33 he has confirmed to reporters following the 1-0 win over Wolfsburg that he will be hanging up his boots at the end of this season.

"I will end my career at the end of season," Lahm told. "I have informed club officials about my decision.

"I can continue with my leadership style, giving my best every day, in every training, until the end of the season. I can keep doing it this season but not beyond," he said.

He also added that he will not be taking up a role as the club's sporting director.

On Wednesday he decided to release a longer statement so he could explain his decision in more detail, also touching on why he feels this is the right time.

"Just as with my retirement from the national team (in 2014), I trust my inner senses," Lahm wrote. "As a captain, it's very important for me to always deliver a top quality performance, and I realise that I won't be able to do so beyond this season.

"I have been a player for FC Bayern since the age of 11. Except for the two years in Stuttgart, I have always worn the FCB jersey. Therefore it is clear to me that I will be working together again with FCB at some point in the future.

"As you all know, I am a person who likes to be prepared - this is why I'd like to take a step back in order to reflect on football as a whole and think about how to best make use of my expertise and experiences.

"For now, my focus lies completely on the remaining games,

"Surely, I will experience them more consciously than ever, knowing they are my last.

"We're in the quarter-finals of the DFB-Cup, we want to achieve the fifth consecutive championship in the league - and next week against Arsenal (in the Champions League) we'll face a true performance benchmark.

"Huge goals and challenges ahead, so #packmas!"

He made his debut for the club in 2002 and broke into the team at full-back.

After Mark van Bommel left the club in January 2011 he was made captain, and became the permanent captain of the German national team in the same year.

He has won seven Bundesliga titles, six DFB-Pokals, one Champions League, one FIFA Club World Cup and one World Cup.