Former Germany international André Schürrle announced his retirement in 2020 before turning 30. Recently, he talked about the reasons for ending his career early during a podcast appearance.
“It was a long process – the thought probably started when I was still playing for Bayer Leverkusen. I kept realizing I couldn’t fully fit into the entire football world. I always told myself: if one day I’m sitting there resting, feeling no excitement or motivation to work or touch the ball again, then that’s the moment to consider retirement.”
Schürrle said he felt his life was “controlled by others”: “You have to be here or there, do certain things, and reach a certain level – maintain it or get better. This wasn’t the life I wanted anymore, nor did it feel like my own life.” So he summoned up the courage to end his career: “This was probably the first time I made a decision entirely for myself.”
Now, Schürrle is away from football and has thrown himself into other activities like extreme sports: “Actually, my motivation is to bring things that are difficult for me into my life. These difficulties are both mental and physical. The key is to face life’s challenges and find ways to overcome them.”
