Philipp Lahm has hinted that he is set to retire from professional football when his Bayern Munich contract expires in 2018.
Lahm, 31, only recently returned to the Bayern squad after an ankle fracture in November, but now feels ready to take his place back in the starting XI for Saturday's visit to Borussia Dortmund following a handful of substitute appearances. The setback had been Lahm's first major injury since an anterior cruciate ligament tear in May 2005.
Following the 2014 World Cup triumph with Germany, Lahm opted to retire from international football to focus on extending a career which he now feels could come to an end in the coming years.
"I can play at the highest level for another three years, but I don't want to squeeze out everything until the end. I want to step down with a nice feeling," Lahm told Munchener Merkur.
"I have a contract until 2018, and I'll be 34 by then. Usually that's the end. But don't nail me down to it."
The Bayern captain also spoke about the future of the club and of coach Pep Guardiola, who is under contract until 2016. The Spaniard has so far left it open as to whether or not he will stay at the Allianz Arena beyond that date.
"Prolong, for sure. Prolong," Lahm said when asked whether Guardiola should sign a new deal with Bayern.
"Right now, it's not about what the club or the players want, but about what he wants. A coaching job can be very intense, and at FC Bayern certainly even more than elsewhere. It costs a lot of energy, especially if you work as meticulous as our coach. You need to allow him time to think about it."