German Player Retires from Football

Midfielder of the German national team, Mesut Özil, announced today, Wednesday, his retirement from football at the age of 34. In a statement on Instagram, he said, "I have been honored to play in professional competitions for nearly 17 years and I am extremely grateful for this opportunity." He added, "But in recent weeks and months, after suffering some injuries, it has become clearer and clearer that the time has come to close the curtain on my career." German coach Hans Flick stated, "Mesut Özil was one of the standout players in our team. At his peak, he was among the best players in the world. I enjoyed working with him; he had exceptional abilities and his skills and overall vision of the sport were remarkable." Flick added, "All of us in the national team wish him and his family all the best in his post-career life."