Arsenal cult hero retires aged just 32 as World Cup winner immediately lands new job
ARSENAL cult hero Shkodran Mustafi is hanging up his playing boots and turning to the coaching side of footie.
The 32-year-old will retire and co-coach the German U17 national from July onwards as an assistant to manager Marc Meister.
The German 2014 World Cup winning defender spent four years at the Emirates Stadium before joining Schalke on a free transfer.
The Gunners paid a reported £35m for his signature and Mustafi helped them to two FA Cups and played 151 times.
Mustafi still had one year left in his deal before both sides agreed to terminate his contract in 2020 following a poor run of form.
Mustafi was then released from Schalke after just three months and joined second division Spanish club UD Levante.
But now the 20-time German international will embark on a new career chapter after facing a series of injuries to his groin and back.
Mustafi said in a statement released by the German Football Association (DFB): “I’ve been thinking about gaining experience as a coach for a while.
“On the one hand, it’s a shame that it’s coming so soon because I would have liked to have played football myself for longer.
“But I’m really looking forward to the time ahead and towards taking my first steps as a coach at the DFB.”
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The DFB said that they consider him a valuable asset, as he can bring his experience and knowledge to the next generation of German stars.
Mustafi’s career spanned over a decade, with stints at clubs such as Everton, Sampdoria, Valencia, in addition to his time at Schalke and Arsenal.
He played alongside former Arsenal stars Mesut Ozil, Per Mertesacker and Lukas Podolski during Germany’s World Cup triumph 10 years ago.
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