Arsenal cult hero Shkodran Mustafi is ending his playing career and turning to football coaching.
The 32-year-old has retired and will take up the role of assistant to head coach Marc Meister and co-coach of the Germany Under-17 team from July.
The Germany defender, a 2014 World Cup winner, spent four years at the Emirates Stadium before joining Schalke on a free transfer.
Arsenal paid a reported £35 million for Mustafi, who helped the club win two FA Cups and made 151 appearances.
Mustafi still had a year left on his contract but the two sides agreed to release him from the deal in 2020 following his poor performance.
Mustafi was released by Schalke after just three months and moved to Spanish second division club UD Levante.
However, the 20-time Germany cap is set to embark on a new career journey after suffering repeated groin and back injuries.
“I have been thinking about gaining coaching experience for some time now,” Mustafi said in a statement released by the German Football Association (DFB).
“On the other hand, I wanted to play football for longer so it’s a shame it has to end so soon.
“But I’m really looking forward to the time ahead and to taking my first steps as a coach with the German Football Association.”
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The DFB said it considered him a valuable asset, able to bring his experience and knowledge to the next generation of German stars.
Mustafi’s career spanned more than 10 years, playing for clubs such as Schalke and Arsenal, as well as Everton, Sampdoria and Valencia.
He played alongside former Arsenal stars Mesut Ozil, Per Mertesacker and Lukas Podolski during Germany’s World Cup triumph 10 years ago.
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