Stuttgart´s Lehmann confirms retirement

Stuttgart goalkeeper Jens Lehmann confirmed on Tuesday that he will retire at the end of the season.

The ex-Arsenal and Germany shot-stopper said his final game would be against Hoffenheim on May 8, adding that he was retiring for family reasons.

“I’m still fit and I will miss football,” said the 40-year-old father-of-three. “The two seasons at Stuttgart have been great and I hope that we’ll finish the season with a European qualifying spot.”

Lehmann has been with Stuttgart since 2008 after having played for Schalke 04 (1988-98), AC Milan (1998), Dortmund (1998-2003) and Arsenal (2003-08), playing a total of 388 matches in the Bundesliga and 147 in the Premier League.

He also made 61 international appearances, playing in the 2006 World Cup and Euro 2008, when Germany finished third and runners-up respectively.

Among his club honours are a UEFA Cup victory in 1997 with Schalke 04, a German league title with Dortmund in 2002, a Premiership title and English Cup victory with Arsenal in 2004 and 2005.

He also played in the 2006 final of the Champions League, in which he was sent off after just 19 minutes.

Lehmann will be in South Africa for this year’s World Cup as a commentator for a pay television channel.