Germany`s Marcell Jansen retires, at just 29
Former Germany defender Marcell Jansen has quit professional football at the age of just 29 following his release by Hamburg.
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Berlin: Former Germany defender Marcell Jansen has quit professional football at the age of just 29 following his release by Hamburg.
But having failed to break into Bayern`s first-team, Jansen was sold to Hamburg in 2008 where he has spent recent seasons battling relegation. His decision to quit came despite offers from England`s Everton and Benfica Lisbon.
The left-back says he now just wants to play football as a hobby and refuses to play half-heartedly for a new club just to further his career.
"I`ve been thinking about things a lot during the summer break," Jansen told daily newspaper Bild, having made 242 appearances in Germany`s top flight.
"There were great offers. But, for me, moving on is not an option.
"I could not play somewhere for two or three years where I do not stand behind it 100 per cent.
"I can`t suddenly kiss another badge now.
"Recently, football has been my job, but I`m looking forward to getting it back again as a hobby."
Jansen won the last of his 45 caps for Germany in March 2014, when he started in a 1-0 friendly win over Chile, and although he was included in Joachim Joachim Low`s provisional World Cup squad, he was cut from the final group which went on to win Brazil 2014.
Having already set up his own company and started a gym-clothes line, Jansen is already thinking about a new career.
"I`d like to get involved with a start-up business, for example, it`s something I have been dreaming of with 100 percent passion," he said.
"In 11 years of Bundesliga, I have been lucky enough to have earned good money, which means I am free to decide my next step."