Why Dortmund defender Niklas Süle will retire at 30 after 2025-26 season?
(Courtesy : DFL/Bundesliga)
The centre-back will hang up his boots at the end of the season.
Niklas Sule of Borussia Dortmund has decided to retire this summer at the age of 30.
The German defender felt he had torn his cruciate ligament for the third time when he hurt his knee during last month’s Bundesliga loss at Hoffenheim.
Niklas Sule claims he already believed his career “was over” because he did not want to take the chance of suffering another major injury, even though he later found out he had avoided a cruciate ligament tear.
The former Hoffenheim and Bayern Munich player’s contract is scheduled to expire on June 30, and he will retire following the season’s last game.
Since making his senior debut at the age of 17, the centre-back has been plagued by injuries, including two prior ACL tears and ensuing fitness problems.
Niklas Sule reveals why he will retire at the end of the season
Sule stated on the Spielmacher podcast, external, following preliminary examinations on his knee:
“went into the shower and cried for 10 minutes. In that moment, I really thought: ‘It’s torn’,” he added.
“When I went for the MRI the next day and received the good news [that it was not a cruciate ligament tear], it was 1,000% clear to me that it was over.”
“I couldn’t imagine anything worse than actually looking forward to the time afterward – being independent, going on vacation, spending time with my children – but then having to process my third cruciate ligament tear.”
Before joining Dortmund in 2022, Sule won five Bundesliga titles with Bayern Munich and the Champions League in 2020.
He has made 49 appearances for Germany, helping them win the Confederations Cup in 2017 and participating in two World Cups.
Why is Niklas Sule retiring?
Due to many serious injuries.
Which clubs did Niklas Sule feature for in his career?
Hoffenheim, Dortmund and Bayern Munich.
How many ACL injuries has Sule suffered?
Two ACL injuries.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.