Berlin, July 8 (IANS) Germany defender Marcell Jansen on Wednesday announced his retirement from professional football after his contract at Hamburg expires in July-end.
After 11 years of professional football, the 29-year-old announced he was hanging up his shoes. Jansen played for three different Bundesliga clubs and represented Germany in 45 matches, reports Xinhua.
The end of his contract in Hamburg was the main reason for his retirement, as the former Bayern Munich player Jansen didn’t want to play for another outfit.
“I don’t want to play for a club which I don’t fully support. There were some great offers but for me continuing was not an option,” he said.
“I am healthy, a free agent and I could still earn good money but I would rather spare this money. I was emotionally connected with the HSV the last years therefore I will continue to home here and to love the club,” Jansen added.
The left-back turned professional in 2004 at Borussia Monchengladbach before he joined Bayern Munich in 2007 to lift the German domestic double with. One year later Jansen agreed on a transfer to Hamburg where he scored 18 goals in 144 appearances.
“It is, of course, a surprising step but at the end I’m mentally done with my career,” Jansen said.
Jansen was since 2005 part of Germany’s national squad where he scored three goals in 45 caps. He played overall 242 official Bundesliga matches.
He was part of Germany team that finished third in 2006 and 2010 FIFA World Cup.