Bayern Munich’s long-time captain has officially retired from the beautiful game. Here are the top five most significant moments of Philipp Lahm’s career.
Number Five: Becoming the skipper for Die Mannschaft
Philipp Lahm first debuted as the skipper of the German national team in 2007. By the 2010 World Cup, Lahm was the official captain of Die Mannschaft.
Joachim Löw chose Lahm as the replacement of German legend Michael Ballack, who had serious injury struggles. Although, Lahm did not lead the Germans to a World Cup victory in 2010, his leadership throughout the tournament was admirable.
Since then, Lahm has never been anything less than a model professional. Whether donning the solid red kits of Bayern Munich or the classic black and white combination of Die Mannschaft, Lahm has constantly been a shining example of how a captain should carry himself for both club and country.
His influence both on and off the pitch has been immensely important for both squads, but the way in which he has always held the national team together and inspired some truly great performances from his fellow Germans (see Brazil 1-7 Germany) really sets his time serving for his country apart.