Former Arsenal defender announces shock retirement and lands new job straight away

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Former Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 32 and revealed his plans to pursue a career in coaching.

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Mustafi, who joined Arsenal in a £35 million deal made 151 appearances for the team, won two FA Cup trophies during his time at the club before moving on to Schalke and later Spanish club Levante.

Mustafi expressed his excitement about his new role as the assistant coach of Germany under-17s, emphasizing his desire to share the experience he gained during his career with the upcoming generation of footballers.

Mustafi acknowledged in a statement on Tuesday that his playing career is done, but he will become the next assistant coach of Germany’s under-17 team.

“I’ve been thinking about gaining experience as a coach for a while,” he said in a statement. “On the one hand, it’s a shame that it’s coming so soon because I would have liked to have played football myself for longer.

“On the other hand, I’m really looking forward to the time ahead and to taking my first steps as a coach at the DFB. I want to pass on all the experience I’ve gained during my time with the U15s, U21s and of course with the senior national team to the boys.”