Former Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi retires and immediately gets a new job
Shkodran Mustafi has announced that he is retiring from football and will join the German under-17 team.
Mustafi He spent much of his playing career in Arsenalfor whom he made 151 appearances between 2016 and 2021.
The centre-back, who won the World Cup with Germany A decade ago, he last played for Spanish side Levante, but was released in July.
Mustafi has now revealed his retirement at the age of 32 and the German FA has announced that he will become their new assistant coach of the under-17 team.
“I've been thinking about gaining experience as a coach for a while,” he said in a statement. “On the one hand, it's a shame that this comes so soon, because I would have liked to play football for longer.
“On the other hand, I am really looking forward to the next moment and taking my first steps as a coach in the DFB. I want to pass on all the experience I have acquired during my time with the under-15s, under-21s and of course, with the absolute team to the boys”.
Kai Kruger, director of Germany's youth teams, added: “We are convinced that he can become a great coach.
“We want to accompany him on this path. By signing him, we remain faithful to our philosophy of developing not only the players but also the coaches.
“In our conversations we felt from the beginning Shkodran's passion for sharing his experiences. He lives football, in a new role in the future, in our team!”
Mustafi won the European Under-17 Championship with Germany before earning 20 caps for the senior team, three of them during their 2014 World Cup triumph in Brazil.
3
3
His career began at Everton after they signed him through their academy and he only made one appearance for the senior team.
The defender then spent two and a half years at Sampdoria before joining Spanish side Valencia after winning the World Cup.
Mustafi's efforts caught the attention of Arsenal and he returned to England in 2016, winning two FA Cups with the Gunners.
He left north London five years later to join Schalke, but spent just seven months at the club before his injury-plagued spell at Levante.
However, he is now set for a swift return to football as he looks to help develop Germany's next generation of young talent.
