Philipp Lahm could be ready to call time on his playing career after he reportedly held talks about becoming Bayern Munich's new sporting director.
Germans news outlet Kicker claims that the 33-year-old may hang up his football boots for the final time at the end of this season, and could be moved into the off-the-pitch role as soon as he does so.
Bayern have been without a sporting director ever since previous incumbent Matthias Sammer stepped down from the position due to health reasons on the eve of the 2016/17 campaign, and the German giants have pinpointed club captain Lahm as the man to replace Sammer upstairs at the Allianz Arena.
Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, the club's chairman, also told Sky Sports Germany that the full-back would be the ideal man to step into the breach left by Sammer's departure, and backed him to take up the role as early as this summer.
He said: "I can definitely see a case for the next sporting director being a member of the current team.
"Philipp Lahm for example. Philipp is an important player and a very good captain, who's developed himself very well as a person away from football.
Welcome to the #FCBayern 500 club, @philipplahm! #Legend pic.twitter.com/heTTwpS8zn
"He alone has to decide when to end his playing career and we will discuss this subject when he retires."
Lahm is currently contracted to Bayern until June 2018, but is alleged to held talks with Rummenigge, Bayern president Uli Hoeness and his deputy Jan-Christian Dreesen, throughout the course of this term, over the possibility of bringing his retirement forward a year earlier than anticipated to become the club's newest director.
The 113-times capped German international had hinted back in November that he could decide to retire from playing after the 2016/17 season comes to an end.
He said: "I wouldn't rule it out. I said nine months ago that this could occur. Nothing has changed since. A lot can happen, there's still seven months of the season remaining, but my decision isn't dependent on winning titles at the end of the season. I'll see how my body feels and then decide what to do.
"I want to compete at the highest possible level and judge the right time to end my career. I'm under contract till 2018 so everything is still in place. There's no need to rush a decision."
Lahm has enjoyed a glittering career in Bavaria ever since he made his first-team debut in November 2002 - the 33-year-old having racked up 500 appearances across a 15-year career with Bayern. The right-back, who is also capable of playing in the centre of midfield, has filled his own personal trophy cabinet with 20 club and international titles during that time, including seven Bundesliga titles, the 2013 Champions League and the 2014 World Cup.
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