Lahm bows out with German Footballer of the Year honours

Philipp Lahm has capped off a decorated career for Bayern Munich with a distinction that had previously escaped the recent retiree.

Lahm, 33, was named Footballer of the Year in Germany on Sunday, nabbing an honour that celebrates his final season with the Bavarian behemoth.

The award, which has been handed out each year since 1960, is a recognition voted upon by football journalists that considers both the exploits of footballers in Germany's top flight and German players plying their trades abroad.

The versatile 113-time capped former Die Mannschaft star becomes the sixth Bayern player to earn the nod in the last 10 years, joining Franck Ribery (2008), Arjen Robben (2010), Bastian Schweinsteiger (2013), Manuel Neuer (2014), and Jerome Boateng (2016).

"It's a real honour and I'm truly pleased with it. I think the journalists in the vote have watched me for my entire career," Lahm said.

Lahm edged out Borussia Dortmund's Bundesliga-leading goal-scorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Real Madrid midfield lynchpin Toni Kroos for the 2017 award.

"History shows that it is incredibly tough for a defender to be named Footballer of the Year because over the course of a year there is normally always a forward who steals the headlines up front."

Winner of eight league titles paired with six domestic cups and the 2012-13 Champions League crown, Lahm retired at the end of last season after joining Bayern's youth set-up in 1995.