Ex-Germany goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand retires

Hildebrand holds the Bundesliga record for the longest time without conceding, his feat of 885 minutes set playing for Stuttgart. (Alastair Grant/AP)

MUNICH — Former Germany goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand is ending his career.

The 36-year-old Hildebrand, who made seven appearances for Germany, tells Kicker magazine "I love football as much as before, but I’m at an age at which you can stop." He adds "17 years’ professional football have left their trace."

Hildebrand had been struggling to recover from a hip operation in April 2015.

The last of Hildebrand’s 301 Bundesliga appearances was Dec. 20, 2014 for Eintracht Frankfurt. He won the German league with Stuttgart in 2007. He also played for Spanish side Valencia, Bundesliga side Hoffenheim and Portuguese team Sporting Lisbon, before returning to Germany for stints at Schalke and then Frankfurt.

Hildebrand holds the Bundesliga record for the longest time without conceding, his feat of 885 minutes set playing for Stuttgart.

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