The current contract of the German midfielder with Werder expires next summer and Fritz decided to hang the boots on the nail.

"I seriously considered my future and listened to my body. Unfortunately, I still have problems with my ankle, so I could not continue my sports career with 100% readiness, "said the 36-year-old Fritz.

Clemens Fritz moved to Werder Bremen from Leverkusen in the summer of 2006 and became captain of Bremen in 2011.

He played for Werder 288 matches in the Bundesliga, as well as 25 matches in the Champions League and the German Cup.

With Werder Fritz won the German Cup in 2009 and made it to the UEFA Cup final, where his team lost to the Miners.