Veteran German Defender Mats Hummels Announces Retirement Following Final Season at Roma
Mats Hummels, the legendary German centre-back and 2014 FIFA World Cup winner, has officially declared his plans to retire from professional football at the conclusion of the current 2024–25 season. The 36-year-old defender shared his heartfelt decision via an emotional Instagram video on Friday, expressing deep gratitude for his 18-year-long career filled with triumphs and challenges.
Beginning his journey with Bayern Munich’s youth setup, Hummels debuted for the first team at age 18 before making a transformative move to Borussia Dortmund. Under Jürgen Klopp’s leadership, he became a pivotal part of the squad that secured back-to-back Bundesliga titles. His defensive partnership with Jerome Boateng was instrumental in Germany’s victorious 2014 World Cup campaign, where he played every minute of the final against Argentina at Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Maracana Stadium.
Hummels later rejoined Bayern Munich, adding three more Bundesliga titles to his name, though a UEFA Champions League title eluded him. His ambition for European glory remained unfulfilled despite reaching the Champions League final twice—once in 2013 and again in 2024—both times with Dortmund, both times at Wembley, and both resulting in narrow losses.
In 2019, he made his second return to Dortmund before signing with Serie A club Roma in 2024, concluding his career with one final season in Italy. Over the years, Hummels earned 78 caps for Germany and played 508 matches for Borussia Dortmund along with 118 appearances for Bayern Munich.
Germany’s head coach Julian Nagelsmann hailed him as a world-class defender and a role model for upcoming generations. Mats Hummels leaves behind a lasting legacy as one of the most dependable and respected defenders in modern football.
