Former Leverkusen star Kevin Volland calls time on his professional career

The 33-year-old brings the curtain down on a 16-year professional career, with his final spell coming at the club where it all began, 1860 Munich. Returning to his boyhood club last summer, Volland featured in the 3. Liga, but the campaign ended in disappointment both on and off the pitch.

Following a difficult season, 1860 Munich were plunged into insolvency, resulting in demotion to the Regionalliga. The circumstances are believed to have influenced Volland’s decision to retire, with the striker admitting that his enjoyment of the game had faded.

“Too much has happened in the last year. At some point, the fun got left behind,” Volland told the Allgäuer Zeitung.

Volland can look back on an impressive career that included successful spells with Hoffenheim, Bayer Leverkusen and Monaco. His most prolific years came at Leverkusen, where he scored 44 Bundesliga goals across four seasons and established himself as one of the league’s most reliable forwards.

Announcing his retirement in a video shared by 1860 Munich on Instagram, Volland reflected on his decision.

“Sometimes you have to make a decision that’s not easy for you personally. Sometimes the end of your career is at the door, as it is for me now. Thank you for 16 great years. It was a pleasure, and I will miss it enormously.”

Although retiring from the professional game, Volland will not be stepping away from football entirely. Instead, he is set to join his hometown club FC Thalhofen, where he will play alongside his brother, Robin.