Former German international midfielder Sebastian Deisler has retired at the age of 27 after a career blighted by five operations to his right knee and a battle against depression.
“I no longer have confidence in my knee which has tormented me these last few years,” said Deisler. “I will stick to my decision which has grown within me.”
The 17-year-old Deisler made his Bundesliga debut with Borussia Monchengladbach in 1998 before joining Hertha Berlin the following year.
In 2002 Bayern paid a then German-record of €9.5million for the playmaker but injury has restricted him to just 62 league appearances in the past five years.
Deisler, who played 36 times for Germany and scored three goals, was for some time considered as the most talented player of his generation.
