06.12.2014 21:09 h

Germany's Rolfes to retire at end of season

Germany midfielder Simon Rolfes announced on Saturday that he plans to retire at the end of the season after a decade and nearly 270 Bundesliga appearances for Bayer Leverkusen.

Rolfes, who turns 33 in January, won the last of his 26 caps for Germany in a 3-2 friendly win over Brazil in August 2011.

He joined Leverkusen from Alemannia Aachen in 2005 but says he will not renew his Leverkusen contract when it expires in June.

"It will then have been 10 years at Leverkusen. I have had a great time, I am still fit and healthy and now is a good time to stop," he said after Leverkusen's 1-0 defeat at Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich which left his side fourth in the table.

Rolfes said he has plans to go into sport management and wants to help former athletes plan their future careers.