Sport
Shkodran Mustafi Retires from Football, Embarks on Coaching Journey with German U-17 Team
Former Arsenal defender and World Cup winner Shkodran Mustafi has retired from professional football and taken up a coaching role.
The ex-German international, who spent last season as a free agent following his departure from Levante, will now serve as the assistant manager for Germany’s Under-17 national team under head coach Marc Meister, starting July 1.
Reflecting on his career transition, Mustafi expressed, “Coaching has been on my mind for a while. It’s unfortunate that my playing days ended sooner than I anticipated, but I’m thrilled about the opportunity ahead.
I look forward to taking my first steps as a coach with the DFB and passing on my experiences from my time with the U15s, U21s, and the senior national team to the young players.”
Mustafi, who was capped 20 times for Germany between 2014 and 2017 and played for Arsenal from 2016 to 2021, will now focus on nurturing the next generation of football talent in his new role.
Footballer Lamine Yamal speaks on the Ballon d’Or award and shares how he will still be happy if his teammate, Pau Cubarsí, gets the award.
“Last year, for me, Cubarsí was the best young player in the world. Either the Kopa award or the Ballon d’Or should go to him. There’s no difference between us.
“When I won it, I told him that he would be next. If he doesn’t win it for whatever reason, I will give it to him.”
Popular footballer Cristiano Ronaldo speaks on retirement and shares how he actually thought of retiring from international football after the 2026 World Cup.
“I thought about retiring from international football after the World Cup, but I spoke to the president, coach, and I am still here. I am an asset, I can help.”
He adds, “The young kids love me because they see me as an example, and that, for me, is the most important thing. I will continue to do that even when I retire after 10 years.”
Footballer Kylian Mbappé shares that he actually came close to signing with Liverpool.
“I was close to Liverpool. My mum was a big fan of Jurgen Klopp, and the favourite destination for my mum was Liverpool. She wanted me to go there,” Mbappé told The Athletic.
“I didn’t listen because I wanted to play in my city, Paris. I didn’t want to leave my country before I was someone. But yes, my mum was always saying, ‘Liverpool — you’re going to be there, playing at Anfield, it’s going to be insane for you.’ I was like, ‘OK!’
“All the time we were talking. ‘What do you think, Mum?’ She’d say, ‘For me, you have to go to Liverpool.’ I said, ‘OK, OK, OK!’ because Jurgen Klopp was an amazing manager. I met him and had a wonderful relationship with him. I had big respect for him.”
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