By Rune Gjerulff@runegjerulff

Nils Petersen announces his retirement from football

Nils Petersen has taken to Instagram to reveal that he will hang up his boots this summer.
SC Freiburg veteran Nils Petersen has announced on Instagram that he will retire from professional football at the end of the season.

"After almost 16 years of professional football, it is with a heavy heart that I hang up my boots at the end of the season. I would like to thank everyone who has supported me, wished me luck week after week, congratulated me after wins and consoled me after defeats," Petersen wrote.

"Thanks to @fc_einheit @germaniahalberstadt @fccarlzeissjena_official @fc_energie_cottbus_official @fcbayern @werderbremen and of course @scfreiburg and all the fans for the wonderful years with the best second thing in the world, which will always be the main thing for me.

Everything that has an end had a beginning. And a new beginning is not the same as an end. You will hear from me. I promise. Now I will invest everything again, so that I can say: "You should go when it's best."

Petersen, 34, has scored 88 goals and provided 22 assists in 289 Bundesliga appearances.

He holds the record for most goals scored as a substitute in the German top flight.

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