Franck Ribery confirms Bayern Munich departure after 12 years

"It won't be easy to say goodbye, but we must never forget what we've achieved together, we've won so much together – more than 20 honours."

Ribery will join fellow veteran winger Arjen Robben in leaving Bayern at the end of the season. The pair, instrumental for the club for much of the last decade, will be given a testimonial next year.

Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge added: "Franck and Arjen are great players. FC Bayern owes a lot to both of them and we will give them a wonderful and emotional farewell.

"They've helped shape FC Bayern's most successful decade with fantastic football."

Bayern are closing in on another Bundesliga crown, though Ribery has been largely on the periphery this season due to injury.

He did, however, make his return to action on Saturday and got on the scoresheet in the 3-1 win over Hannover.

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Press Association Sport staff');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', 'eb97eed3-6a11-4455-ba82-b71a57a1c8ef');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:club-news,paservice:sport:football,paservice:sport:uk,paservice:sport:world');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Franck Ribery to end 12-year stay at Bayern Munich'});