FIFA World Cup all-time top scorer retires from football

Miroslav Klose, the top scorer in World Cup history, is ending his playing career and will join Joachim Löw’s coaching staff as he studies for his pro licence, the German football association (DFB) have confirmed.

The former Bayern Munich striker, 38, helped his country win the World Cup in 2014, becoming the record scorer in the tournament's history with 16.

Klose, a two-time Bundesliga winner with Bayern, was without a club after his Lazio contract expired last season.

He now plans to join Germany's coaching staff after an invitation from manager Joachim Low.

"We're looking forward to Miro,'' said Low, who this week extended his contract through to the 2020 European Championship.

"I am sure that we coaches, just like the players, will benefit very much from his presence and involvement.

"He will not just be with us on the training field, but also contribute his views to preparing for opponents and to game and video analysis."

Klose, who played 137 games for Germany, said: “I celebrated my greatest successes in the national team and this was a wonderful time which remains unforgettable.

“That is why I’m delighted to return to the DFB. In the past few months, I have thought a lot about continuing my playing career, but also about looking at new avenues, namely becoming a coach.

“Reading a game, preparing painstakingly, developing strategies and tactics have always intrigued me and interested me a lot as a player. I am very grateful to Jogi Löw and Hansi Flick for this opportunity to sharpen my ideas now in practice.”