Werder Bremen captain Clemens Fritz announces retirement

The 36-year-old defender, who has spent more than a decade at the club, suffered season-ending ankle ligament damage in March and said the time was right to call it a day.

"Since getting injured, I've given my future a lot of thought and listened to what my body has had to say," Fritz said on the club's website.

"Unfortunately I've experienced significant problems with my ankle that I haven't encountered before. Despite all the will in the world on my part, the injury means I am unable to resume my career as a sportsman with 100 per cent fitness.

Fritz had considered retirement last summer, but agreed to stay on at a club which had narrowly avoided relegation.

This season has seen a remarkable turnaround in fortunes, with Werder eighth and still harbouring hopes of qualifying for Europe.

"T he fact the club have turned a corner on the pitch in the meantime allowed me to make the decision with a clear conscience," he added. "It was always a real honour to wear the Werder shirt."

Frank Baumann, Werder's sporting director, said Fritz would continue to work for the club in a role to be determined.

Fritz, who joined the club from Bayer Leverkusen in 2006, has made 368 appearances for Werder, lifting the DFB-Pokal in 2009 and reaching the final of the UEFA Cup the following season. He has been capped 22 times by Germany.