Champions League winning defender now plays as goalkeeper for non-league club after forced retirement
Former Champions League winner Niklas Sule is now playing as a goalkeeper in Germany's amateur pyramid after announcing an early retirement.
Earlier this year Sule, a Champions League winner with Bayern Munich, announced that he would be retiring at the end of the 2025/26 season, aged just 30.
The defender struggled with knee injuries throughout his career and, although he decided to take some time away from the pitch professionally, he's still playing as a goalkeeper for a non-league side in the lower leagues of Germany.
Champions League winner Niklas Sule shines as goalkeeper in viral non-league footage
Sule began his senior career at Hoffenheim before making a big move to join German giants Bayern Munich in 2017, where he won five Bundesliga titles, two German Cups and the 2020 Champions League.
Advert
In 2022, the defender joined Borussia Dortmund but retired this summer due to his injury issues, making a total of 300 Bundesliga appearances across his career.
Alongside his club career, Sule also earned 49 Germany caps, representing his country at two World Cups and Euro 2020.
In May this year, Sule confirmed that, having considered doing so for a while, he would be retiring after he injuring his knee against former club Hoffenheim weeks prior.
But now, he's decided to join amateur German side SV Tiefenbach, but not just as a defender.
Having made a name for himself due to his formidable size, standing at 6ft 5in tall, Sule has decided to take up goalkeeping following an injury to his the club's normal No1.
Footage shared on social media by BallJunge91, shows the former Germany star making several key saves.
Sule has made two appearances as a goalkeeper for the club, the first being a 2-1 defeat before beating Epfenbach 3-2 with Sule in goal for th second time.
READ MORE: Premier League release official statement confirming Man City are guilty with punishment details
Niklas Sule speaks out after making goalkeeping debut for amateur club
After a brief period away from the pitch following the expiration of his Borussia Dortmund contract at the end of the season, Sule signed for SV Tiefenbach in July.
Speaking at the time, he said: “I’m really looking forward to finally experiencing football from a completely different perspective – where it’s solely about the sport itself and not about business or money.
“What's more, two of my best friends play for SV Tiefenbach, one of whom is even a coach here. After 13 years as a professional footballer, it's an absolute treat for me to be able to stand on the pitch with my buddies and fully enjoy this wonderful sport once again.
“And last but not least, my home golf club, where I love spending a lot of time, is also located in Tiefenbach."
Earlier this month,the Champions League winner's new coach, Jason Walzel, told German outlet Badische Neueste Nachrichten: “I think he’s enjoying it more playing a bit more offensively now.
“He was there on Saturday and then again on Thursday and Friday.
“I don’t think it was planned that he would one day actually play in the Kreisliga.
“The boys are happy, he’s a great guy.”
The club play in Germany’s Kriesliga, which is roughly equivalent to the 11th tier in the country’s football pyramid.
READ MORE: PFA chief blasts Thomas Tuchel's Cole Palmer comments and proposes solution to 'sick' problem
Topics: Football News, Bundesliga, Champions League, Bayern Munich, Football
Ben McCrum