GERMANY legend Mats Hummels has announced his retirement from football.
Hummels, 36, rolled credits on his glittering 18-year career with an emotional announcement on social media.
The centre-back, who currently plays for Roma, sat in front of a camera and watched the greatest highlights of his career with the likes of Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich and Germany.
The defender then confirmed that he will be hanging up his boots at the end of the season.
Hummels said: “I’m struggling with myh emotions right now. Now comes the moment that no footballer can avoid.
“After more than 18 years and so many things that football has given me, I’m ending my career this summer.
“When I see all this [the highlights], I know how much this whole journey, this whole path has meant to me. How extraordinary it was to be able to experience that.”
Hummels won almost every title available throughout his career and especially shone bright across two stints with Dortmund.
The ex-Germany international won two Bundesliga titles and two cups with BVB and also made it to two Champions League finals with the German giants.
Hummels also counts three titles and one cup with Bayern, where he started his career in 2007.
But perhaps his greatest moment took place in 2014 when he won the World Cup with Germany.
The Roma star looked back at all that success and paid tribute to his managers as well as team-mates.
Hummels added: “Because it takes a lot, just having the right coaches at the right time, being fit at the right time, having the right team-mates at the right time.
“And I’ve seen so many guys, so many coaches, who I owe a lot to. Without them my whole career would never have gotten off the ground or reached this level.
“How great the games themselves were, but also the moments after the game.
“When you sat in the dressing room or celebrated together on the pitch. Cheering with the fans, standing in front of the Sudtribune [Yellow Wall]. These are moments that will never happen again.”
Hummels could barely hold back his tears as he went through his emotions while looking back at his successful career.
He said: “That already makes me emotional. It will make me even more emotional when it’s finally over.
“But it’s incredible to have had it like this, it can’t be compared to anything else. It can’t be compared to anything.
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