The average player of the Bundesliga, Borussia Dortmund, announced that one of its leaders, defender Christoph Metzelder, will leave the club in the summer.
The 26-year-old German and his agent Jorg Neubauer were asked to decide about their future by the end of February. The Dortmund team offered to extend the contract expiring in the summer, but after not receiving a positive response, they withdrew the offer.
"Christoph represented our club excellently both on and off the pitch. We wish him all the best in the remaining stages of his career," said Borussia's club president Hans-Joachim Watzke.
Ch. Metzelder made his debut in the Dortmund team at the age of 20, in the summer of 2000, after coming from the modest team "Preussen" from Munster. In total, the defender played 117 matches in the Bundesliga, scored 2 goals, and won the Bundesliga with the team in 2002.
Metzelder also became a regular defender for the German national team, winning silver at the 2002 World Cup and bronze at the 2006 World Cup with the team.