Borussia Dortmund defender Niklas Süle has announced he will retire from professional football at the end of the 2025-26 season, at the age of 30. The German centre-back cited a profound fear of suffering a third anterior cruciate ligament injury as the primary reason for his decision, which he revealed during an appearance on the Spielmacher podcast.
Süle, who joined Borussia Dortmund in 2022 and has since made 109 appearances for the club, explained that a recent injury scare during a match against Hoffenheim solidified his choice. What initially felt like a potentially career-ending injury proved to be a turning point for the defender.
“What I felt when our team doctor did the drawer test [to detect a possible cruciate ligament tear] in the dressing room in Hoffenheim, looked at the physio and shook his head, and the physio did it too and didn’t feel any resistance either, I went into the shower and cried for 10 minutes,” Süle recounted.
“In that moment, I really thought: ‘It’s torn’. When I went for an MRI the next day and received the good news [that it wasn’t a cruciate ligament tear], it was one thousand per cent clear to me that it was over. I couldn’t imagine anything worse than looking forward to life, being independent, going on holiday, spending time with my children, only to then have to come to terms with my third cruciate ligament tear.”
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A decorated career
Before his move to Dortmund, Süle enjoyed a highly successful spell at Bayern Munich, where he amassed an impressive collection of silverware. His club career achievements, all with Bayern Munich, include:
- One Champions League title
- Five Bundesliga titles
- One UEFA Super Cup
- Two DFB-Pokal titles
- One Club World Cup
- Four DFL-Super Cup titles
He was a key part of the Bayern Munich squad that achieved a historic treble, including the Champions League. On the international stage, Süle earned 49 caps for the German national team and was part of the squad that won the 2017 Confederations Cup.
Emotional farewell to Dortmund
Reflecting on his time at Signal Iduna Park, Süle expressed a deep connection to Borussia Dortmund, despite his relatively shorter tenure compared to his Bayern years. His comments, reported by Goal.com UK, highlighted the unique atmosphere and community he found in Dortmund.
“What I experienced in my first year, when we almost won the league, the evening at the hotel, the walk to the stadium. What I felt then, I’d only ever felt once before, before my first professional match, the nervousness, the excitement. That was one of the most intense moments I’ve ever had, before the Mainz game,” Süle shared.
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“When I look back on my four years in Dortmund, there were so many moments I really enjoyed. The banter in the dressing room, the stadium, we’re talking about 80,000 people here. The fans always gave me a warm welcome. I’m going to miss that time very much. How at home I felt here. On my first day, I noticed what the people in Dortmund are like: open, warm, honest. I felt a huge connection with that. My children go to nursery here. It’s really hard for us to leave.”
Süle’s decision underscores the physical and mental toll professional football can take, with the defender now planning to prioritize life away from the pitch and spend more time with his family.
Sources: www.goal.com
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