David Odonkor announces retirement 
Former Germany international David Odonkor has called time on his playing career at the age of 29.
On Thursday, the winger said severe cartilage damage in his knee had left him with no other option.
“Health comes first,” he told Suddeutsche. “I don’t want to pick up my daughter from school walking with a stick, limping.” Odonkor was part of the Germany squad that reached the World Cup semi-finals on home soil in 2006, when his inclusion in the squad was widely seen as surprising.
Jurgen Klinsmann, then the Germany coach, praised the Borussia Dortmund player and said he was a “weapon” for the team. And in Germany’s second group game,
against Poland, he came on and set up Oliver Neuville to score as Klinsmann’s side began their run to the semi-finals.
Following the World Cup, Borussia sold Odonkor to Real Betis.
His ongoing knee problems, however, stopped him from reaching his peak.When he left Seville after five years, he had difficulty finding a new club. He joined second-tier Alemannia Aachen for a brief spell,
moving on to Ukrainian club FC Hoverla-Zakerpattya Uschhorod.
Earlier this year, he told Bild: “I need to get out of here as soon as possible. I want to return to Germany.”
After his contract ran out, he returned home. During the summer, he was briefly linked with a transfer to Thailand but opted to stay in Germany.
“Of course, 2006 was the highlight of my career,” he said. “But I have played other good games for Dortmund and Betis --
you should not forget that. I am delighted that I walked down those paths.”
http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1558724/david-odonkor-calls-playing-career?cc=3436 [ 此帖被羅力亞在2013-09-21 00:53重新編輯 ]
