Timo Hildebrand, who holds the Bundesliga record for a goalkeeper of 885 minutes without conceding a goal, confirmed Tuesday he is retiring at the age of 36.

"Every goodbye is difficult. With your support it will be easier for me. I want to thank every single fan, club and companion in my last 17 years as a professional footballer," Hildebrand wrote on his Facebook page.

The ex-Germany shot-stopper is without a club and has decided to hang up his gloves after a move to an MLS club in the United States fell through.

Hildebrand set the German league record in nine games, bridging the 2002/03 and 2003/04 seasons.

"This record was part of an outstanding team performance. If anyone manages to beat it, it will be Bayern and Manuel," Hildebrand magazine Kicker.

Bayern Munich's Manuel Neuer came closest to beating Hildebrand's figure in 2011 when he went 770 minutes unbeaten in the German league.

Hildebrand won the last of his seven caps for Germany in 2007 and made 301 appearances in the Bundesliga for VfB Stuttgart, Hoffenheim, Schalke 04 and Eintracht Frankfurt.

He also had spells at Valencia and Sporting Lisbon after winning the Bundesliga title with Stuttgart in the 2006/07 season.

He last played in Germany's top flight for Frankfurt in December 2014 and has decided to retire after a long recovery period following a hip operation in April 2015.

"I love football, but I am at an age when one is allowed to stop," he added.

"Apart from that, my health is important to me and I want to be able to have a bit of a kick around with my son."

Hildebrand has signed up to study for his coaching licence and says he may well work for VfB Stuttgart in the future.

"I am rooted to the club and can well imagine doing something at VfB in the future. I have good contacts," he said.

For now he is busy with projects in sports business and event management and is a partner in a supermarket chain of vegan food.