Jerome Boateng is ending his career: a master is leaving the ship!

Jerome Boateng is ending his career: a master is leaving the ship!

Jerome Boateng announced the end of his impressive football career on Friday evening. The 37-year-old announced via an Instagram story that he was ending his active career after almost 19 years. Boateng, who won the World Cup with the German national team in 2014, can look back on an eventful career that has made him one of the most famous defenders in the world. His decision comes after various setbacks in recent years, including a split from his last club, Linzer ASK, after just nine games.

The Berlin native played for some of Europe's biggest clubs, including Tennis Borussia, Hertha BSC, Hamburger SV, Manchester City and particularly successfully at FC Bayern Munich, where he won the UEFA Champions League twice in both 2013 and 2020. Boateng has won a total of nine German championship titles and won the FA Cup with Manchester City in 2011.

Career and achievements

Boateng started his professional career in 2006 and quickly became an integral part of the German national team. Between 2009 and 2018 he played 76 international matches, in which he not only celebrated numerous successes, but also had to overcome personal challenges. His career was marked by a fruitful partnership with Mats Hummels in defense, which achieved notoriety far beyond the national level.

However, his final years in professional football were marked by difficulties. After leaving Bayern Munich in 2021, he moved to Olympique Lyon, where he appeared in 32 games, before moving to US Salernitana in Italy, where he only played 7 games. The last attempt to continue his career at LASK in Austria also ended in disappointment.

Personal challenges

In recent years, Boateng has also faced legal problems. In 2024 he was convicted of intentional bodily harm against the mother of his children. He was also the focus of investigations into bodily harm to his former partner, which were, however, discontinued. Such incidents shed light on the stresses that professional athletes are often exposed to. According to a study, a third of all professional footballers suffer from psychological stress, which is exacerbated by the pressure to perform and constant public evaluation.

Former national player Per Mertesacker and other professionals report psychological challenges that had far-reaching consequences for their careers. Psychological support is considered crucial, but only a few clubs offer long-term help, which Robin Gosens criticizes as inadequate.

Boateng, who was also known for his successes in the past, is now planning his time after his playing career and has already acquired the B license as a football coach. This decision shows that he wants to move forward despite the difficulties he has experienced.

The football world is saying goodbye to one of its big names, a player who has made headlines both on and off the pitch. His retirement is not only the end of an era for Boateng, but also a moment of reflection on the challenges and pressure in professional sport.

For more information about Jerome Boateng's career and the challenges of professional football, you can read the articles from oe24, World and the analysis of ZDF read.