Forgotten Germany World Cup star announces retirement at 32 after a year unemployed

A FORMER Germany international has announced his retirement at the age of 32.

The left-back is hanging up his boots after 278 Bundesliga appearances and seven senior caps with the German national team.

In fact, he was part of the 2018 World Cup squad and started in the first match of the group stage against Mexico.

However, the defender didn't see any more action in Russia as he was benched for the other two games against Sweden and South Korea and Germany failed to make the knockout stages.

A year earlier, however, he was part of the team that won the Confederations Cup and played a whole match in the group stage against Cameroon.

However, his career didn't get rolling after that as he found himself as a free agent for over a year after leaving his final club Hertha Berlin.

That is none other than Marvin Plattenhardt, who spent nine years at Hertha since his arrival from Nurnberg in 2014.

Plattenhardt received offers this past year from various countries around the world, such as Italy, Turkey, the US and even England.

However, the full-back preferred to call time on his 13-year career and insists he has no regrets.

Plattenhardt told : "Now the point has come where I say: 'Finished!' I'm hanging up my boots.

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"Between the summer of 2023 and the end of January 2024 there were a few talks with clubs in various countries, but the overall package was not suitable for me in terms of my family. I just didn't want to do that.

"And when you've been out for a while, it gets more and more difficult these days.

"It's crazy when you see how many names, including top-class players, are still on the list of players without a club.

"I didn't want to continue at all costs. So I've now made this decision for myself and I'm absolutely fine with it.

“A wonderful and great time. When I look back on my career, I can say that all my childhood dreams have come true.”