Franck Ribery to leave Bayern Munich this summer after 12 years, 123 goals and astonishing 21 trophies for club
- Franck Ribery has been mainstay in team for years and became serial winner
- But 36-year-old Frenchman has opted against extending his current deal
- He said: ‘We must never forget what we’ve achieved, we’ve won so much’
- Ribery will join fellow veteran winger Arjen Robben in leaving in the summer
Franck Ribery will leave Bayern Munich when his contract expires in the summer after the French midfielder decided against extending his deal.
Ribery has scored 123 goals in 422 appearances since moving to Bayern in June 2007 from Marseille, helping the Bavarian giants to 21 trophies, including eight Bundesliga titles and the 2012-13 Champions League.
The 36-year-old told the club website: ‘When I came to Bayern, it was a dream come true.
Franck Ribery is calling time on his Bayern Munich career after more than a decade at the club
Uli Hoeness signed the Frenchman in 2007 and he’s been at the Bavarian side ever since
‘It won’t be easy to say goodbye, but we must never forget what we’ve achieved together, we’ve won so much together – more than 20 honours.’
Ribery will join fellow veteran winger Arjen Robben in leaving Bayern at the end of the season.
The pair, instrumental for the club for much of the last decade, will be given a testimonial next year.
Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge added: ‘Franck and Arjen are great players. FC Bayern owes a lot to both of them and we will give them a wonderful and emotional farewell.
Ribery and his fellow veteran winger Arjen Robben (left) are both moving on this summer
‘They’ve helped shape Bayern’s most successful decade with fantastic football.’
Bayern are closing in on another Bundesliga crown, though Ribery has been largely on the periphery this season due to injury.
He did, however, make his return to action on Saturday and got on the scoresheet in the 3-1 win over Hannover.
The 36-year-old showed he is still a threat as he scored in the 3-1 win over Hannover