Former junior international Florian Jungwirth ended his active career. The 34-year-old, who played the 2013/14 season at VfL Bochum was under contract, played in North American Major League Soccer for the past six years.

Now his club has announced Vancouver Whitecaps Jungwirth’s career comes to an end after 15 years of professional football, including a four-minute video in which former mates such as Danny Latza, Lars and Sven Bender as well as VfL sporting director Patrick Fabian had their say .

However, Jungwirth will remain in MLS: At the Whitecaps, the former central defender will move to Italian Vanni Sartini’s coaching staff and will work under sports director Axel Schuster (from 2016 to 19 at Schalke 04).

“I am very grateful that the Vancouver Whitecaps, Axel Schuster and Vanni Sartini are giving me this amazing opportunity to work as an assistant coach with the first team,” Jungwirth said. “It’s a great form of confidence and I can’t wait to give it back.”

During his active career, Jungwirth collected over 400 competitive appearances, most of them in MLS. The defender has made 109 appearances in the 2nd Bundesliga, and his career record also includes 35 Bundesliga appearances.

During his year at VfL he was mostly a permanent fixture and played 30 games before his contract was terminated and he moved to Darmstadt 98. Jungwirth enjoyed his most successful spell in Germany with the Lilies and was promoted in the Bundesliga in 2015.

Jungwirth was also on the road for the DFB youth selection. In 2009, he captained the U20s to the World Cup and the quarter-finals. In total, Florian Jungwirth wore the eagle on his chest 44 times.