Champions League winner plays for a Sunday league club

Although he announced near the end of last season, back in early May, that he was retiring from football, Niklas Sule (30) has made a comeback—much sooner than anyone expected. The former Germany international and ex-player of Hoffenheim, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund will not be returning to professional football, however. According to Sky Germany, Sule has joined Tiefenbach, a club competing in the Kreisliga, the ninth tier of the German football pyramid—the equivalent of what many would simply call the "Sunday leagues".

Sule himself sounded delighted about the move:

"I'm really looking forward to experiencing football from a completely different perspective again—where it's all about the game itself, love, and passion, rather than business or money. My two best friends play for Tiefenbach, and one of them is even the coach. After 13 years in professional football, this is a true gift: sharing the pitch with friends and simply enjoying this wonderful sport to the fullest".

Dortmund defender hangs up his boots at just 30

Sule began his career at Waldhof Mannheim, spent time in the youth academy of Eintracht Frankfurt, and joined Hoffenheim at the age of 15, where he developed into one of Germany's top central defenders. Bayern Munich signed him in 2017 for 20 million euros. After moving to Borussia Dortmund, however, his career gradually declined. He struggled with weight issues and recurring injuries, and eventually sought help from a sports psychologist. Now, Sule insists he is happy and fulfilled, believing he still has many enjoyable years of football ahead of him at the amateur level.