Franck Ribery to leave Bayern Munich in the summer
Franck Ribery is to leave Bayern Munich when his contract expires at the end of the current season, the record champions announced on Sunday.
Ribery, 36, will leave the Bavarian club after 12 hugely successful seasons in which he has won over 20 titles, including eight Bundesliga titles to date.
"When I joined Bayern, it was a dream come true," Ribery told fcbayern.com. "Leaving is not going to be easy, but we must never forget what we've achieved together. We've won so much – over 20 titles."
Read: 12 glorious moments from 12 glorious Ribery seasons at Bayern
Ribery's departure will coincide with the departure of Arjen Robben, thus officially marking the end of the Robbery partnership which has wowed fans in Germany and Europe for a decade.
"Franck and Arjen are outstanding players and Bayern have a lot to thank them both for, and we are preparing a worthy, emotional send-off for them," said Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. "They've defined the most successful decade in Bayern Munich's history with their fantastic football."
Bayern are arranging an official send-off game for both Ribery, who scored in Bayern's 3-1 win over Hannover on Saturday, and Robben, who made his return after over five months on the sidelines late on in Saturday's win, to be played in 2020.
Watch: Ribery - a Bundesliga legend
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Ribery has given no indication as to what the next step in his career will be, other than to confirm he has no intention of hanging up his boots yet.
"I don't want to think about what comes next because I want to enjoy every single day I have here with my team for the next three weeks," Ribery said. "I've not got a real plan for next season, I don't know where I'll go to play football. Of course I'll still be playing, but I am not 100 percent certain where yet. We'll have to wait.
"I hope to win the Bundesliga and the DFB Cup this year, that would be nice for me, for my family and of course also for the fans. It was always an honour to wear this shirt.
"After 12 years, it's hard for me, but also for the fans. But we must not forget what we've done together. Danke schön!"
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