Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has said current captain Philipp Lahm could be offered a key upstairs role at the club once he hangs up his boots.


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The 32-year-old ex-Germany captain, who retired from international duty after lifting the 2014 World Cup, has a contract until 2018 and has spent virtually his entire career at Bayern.


"I can imagine that in the future Philipp could play an important role off the field at the club," Rummenigge told Munich-based newspaper the Sueddeutsche Zeitung on Thursday.


"Philipp is a world-class right-back, but I really like his development off the field.


"For me, as chairman, he`s not only a very pleasant, but a very qualified person to talk to."


Carlo Ancelotti has replaced Pep Guardiola as Bayern`s head coach for the 2016/17 season, but the defending Bundesliga champions are looking for a new sporting director after Matthias Sammer quit earlier this summer.


While no formal offer of a future role has yet been made, Lahm has said "everything is possible" when asked about a Bayern role.


For Rummenigge, 60, and 64-year-old Uli Hoeness, who is set to be re-elected as Bayern`s president in November despite having been released from jail for tax fraud in February, it is important to prepare for the future.


"Succession is obviously something which we have to think about in the near future and I can imagine Philipp Lahm taking up a role like this," added Rummenigge.


Lahm joined Bayern in 1995 as a 12-year-old and, bar a loan period at Stuttgart, has spent his entire career at the Munich club.


He will captain the side for the new Bundesliga season which starts on August 26 with a home fixture against Werder Bremen.


Rummenigge also said Germany stars like Manuel Neuer, Thomas Mueller and Bastian Schweinsteiger -- the latter currently at Manchester United -- could also have future roles at Bayern, who have a history of offering roles to key figures once their playing careers are over.