Philipp Max announces retirement from professional football

Former German international and Bundesliga defender Philipp Max has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 32. Max shared the news via an emotional message on Instagram, stating that while he is sad to leave behind a career he has worked toward his entire life, he concluded that hanging up his boots was the best decision.

Max’s career included 180 Bundesliga appearances, notably with FC Augsburg and Schalke, before he moved to PSV Eindhoven in 2020. His performances in the Netherlands earned him three senior caps for the German national team under coach Joachim Löw. Following his time in the Netherlands, Max had stints with Eintracht Frankfurt, Panathinaikos in Greece, and Gamba Osaka in Japan. He had been without a club since leaving the Japanese side earlier this year.