Niklas Süle (foto: Getty Images)
Niklas Süle has announced his retirement at the age of 30 after years of injury struggles and fears over another cruciate ligament tear.
Niklas Süle has shocked the football world by announcing his retirement from professional football at the age of just 30.
The Borussia Dortmund defender decided to end his career after another frightening injury scare, bringing to a close a career filled with trophies, setbacks and emotional moments.
Süle revealed his decision during the Spielmacher podcast, and shortly afterwards Dortmund officially confirmed his departure. His contract with the club was due to expire at the end of June.
The turning point came in April during a match against Hoffenheim, when Süle feared he had suffered a third torn cruciate ligament.
“When the doctor in the dressing room looked at the physiotherapist and shook his head, I went into the shower and cried for ten minutes. I was sure it had burst again,” Süle admitted.
Fortunately for the defender, later examinations showed the injury was not as serious as first feared. Still, the moment changed everything in his mind.
“When I found out that the cruciate ligament was not torn, I knew it was over. I couldn’t imagine going through another long rehabilitation,” the former Germany international explained.
Süle battled injury problems throughout his entire career. His first major knee injury came in 2014 during his time at Hoffenheim, while the second serious setback arrived in 2019 when he played for Bayern Munich.
Despite those struggles, Süle still built an impressive career. During his years at Bayern, he won 14 trophies, including the Champions League. He also lifted the Confederations Cup with Germany and made 49 appearances for the national team.
He joined Dortmund as a free agent in 2022 and quickly became an important figure inside the squad. One of the most emotional moments of his time at the club came during the dramatic Bundesliga title collapse against Mainz.
“The feeling before the match against Mainz was one of the most intense moments of my life,” Süle said.
In his farewell message, the defender also spoke emotionally about his connection with Dortmund and the city itself.
“The people here have welcomed me with open arms since day one. The children go to kindergarten here. It’s already hard for us to think about leaving,” he added.