Former Germany international defender Marcell Jansen has announced his retirement from professional football aged 29 following his release by Hamburg at the end of last season.
The left-back, who played 45 times for his country but was omitted from Joachim Low's final World Cup squad last summer, has decided to hang up his boots after Hamburg decided against offering him a contract extension.
Liebe Fans & Freunde, wenn ich euch etwas zu sagen habe, dann soll es von Herzen kommen -> !http://t.co/U6lwT4duQf pic.twitter.com/EwHiPUMp5x
- Marcell Jansen (@MarcellJansen) July 8, 2015
"I've been thinking about things a lot during the summer break,'' Jansen told German newspaper Bild. "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 percent.
"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 joined Hamburg from Bayern Munich in an €8 million deal in August 2008 after helping Germany finish runners-up at the European Championship and proceeded to play more than 150 games in seven seasons with the Red Shorts.
The former Borussia Monchengladbach defender played 15 times for Hamburg last season as they avoided relegation thanks to a two-legged play-off victory against Karlsruher.
Jansen was also part of the Germany squad which reached the World Cup semi-finals in 2006 and played his last international game against Chile in March last year.