BERLIN
Franck Ribery said Tuesday he will return to Bayern Munich once his playing career is over, as he prepares to end 12 years at the club at the end of this season.
Ribery, 36, confirmed last weekend that he would not extend his current contract beyond 2019 at Bayern, ending a record-breaking career at the Bundesliga giants.
At an emotional press conference in Munich on Tuesday, the Frenchman said he would continue playing for another one or two years before returning to Bayern in another capacity after retirement.
“I still don’t know what I will do next season, there are a few options,” he said.
“I will play for one or two more years and then I am 100% sure I will come back to Munich. We have already discussed a job in the club.”
“We still have a lot of time, but the important thing is I am always at home here.”
Ribery said that it would be difficult for him to leave Bayern after 12 years of service.
“It is not easy, I have experienced and won so much with Bayern. It was a fantastic time for me and my family, and I will never forget it,” he said.
Ribery, who has won 22 titles with Bayern and could claim a record ninth Bundesliga title this season, is expected to be given a roaring send-off when Bayern face Eintracht Frankfurt at the Allianz Arena on the last day of the season.
“I am excited to see what the fans do. I always had an unbelievable relationship with them and they always stood by me, even in the most difficult times.”
Ribery, whose fellow Bayern stalwart Arjen Robben will also leave at the end of this season, said that the highlight of his Bayern career was winning the Champions League in 2013.
“There are so many memories and great games, but the Champions League Final at Wembley was the best. What we did there was crazy, a dream.”
He also ranked treble-winning boss Jupp Heynckes above Pep Guardiola as the most important coach of his Bayern career.
“There were lots of good coaches, but Jupp was a very important person for my life and my career,” he said.