Kevin Volland ends his professional career after 16 years and moves to amateur football

"Ich habe mir das auch anders vorgestellt", said Volland with regard to the missed promotion to the Regionalliga, which TSV 1860 had originally targeted as favorites. The attacking player expressed disappointment but also stressed his desire "nochmal in den Amateurfußball reinzuschnuppern und die Zeit mit meiner Familie und meinen Freunden zu genießen".

Stations of a 16-year career

Last season, the forward appeared in 35 matches for 1860, contributing to 15 goals. Over the course of his 16-year professional career, Volland held contracts with 1860 München, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, Bayer Leverkusen, AS Monaco, and 1. FC Union Berlin. In total, he made 277 Bundesliga appearances for Hoffenheim, Leverkusen, and Union Berlin, as well as 17 Champions League outings.

Volland reached his highest market value in October 2019 at 35 million euros while at Bayer Leverkusen. At AS Monaco, where he played between 2020 and 2023, he appeared 115 times and was involved in 63 goals. For the German senior national team, the attacking player made 15 appearances, the last in November 2021; he made his debut in May 2014 under national team coach Joachim Löw.

National team and missed World Cup

Volland went through all of the DFB's junior national teams. A World Cup appearance remained denied to him: he did not make the squad for the 2014 World Cup. According to his current market value profile, his value is listed at 450,000 euros.

Looking ahead: FC Thalhofen

Volland framed his farewell with a thank-you to companions and fans: "Wenn ich auf die letzten 16 Jahre meiner Karriere zurückblicke, hat der Fußball mir so viele schöne, tolle Momente ermöglicht. Ich werde es extrem vermissen", the statement reads. In future, he will therefore no longer play in the Regionalliga but in the Bezirksliga.

The move to FC Thalhofen marks a clear fresh start for Volland. Instead of the day-to-day life of a professional, amateur football, family, and circle of friends take center stage. No public information is available about the exact details of his future playing eligibility in the Bezirksliga.