Lukas Podolski bid a teary farewell to football by announcing his retirement following a testimonial match.
The former Arsenal forward made one final appearance for his boyhood club FC Cologne on Thursday night in front of 50,000 fans.
Podolski featured and scored for both Team Poldi and a Cologne XI, with the former winning 5-3 at a packed RheinEnergieStadion.
He was given a deserved standing ovation at full-time and delivered an emotional message as he called time on his career.
“It’s over on the pitch now,” he said via the Bundesliga website, with the 39-year-old cutting a tearful figure.
“But we’ll definitely see each other again off the pitch, whether in the stands or on the road. Once a Cologne fan, always a Cologne fan.”
Podolski was joined by many fellow German stars at his testimonial including Manuel Neuer, Mats Hummels and Joachim Low.
The support he received meant a lot to him as, before taking to the pitch for the final time, he said: “It really touches me that so many fans would like to come to enjoy this special evening with me.
“It is an honour for me to wear the Billygoat on my chest once more in front of a full house.
“It’s a final declaration of love for this special city, the club with its fantastic fans, my teammates for so many years and other people who have accompanied my path.”
Podolski was born in Poland and moved to what was then-West Germany in 1987 before joining Cologne’s academy eight years later.
After making 85 senior appearances for the club he left in 2006 for German giants Bayern Munich and won the Bundesliga title.
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The forward returned to Cologne for a second stint and featured a further 65 times and extended his goal tally to 86 in all competitions.
Podolski then left Germany in 2012 to sign for Arsenal, with whom he won the FA Cup in his second season.
He scored 31 goals and assisted another 15 for the Gunners ahead of a loan spell to Inter Milan for the second-half of the 2014/15 campaign.
Upon his return, the 130-time Germany international and World Cup winner completed a permanent exit from north London with a move to Galatasaray.
Further spells came in Japan with Vissel Kobe, Turkey with Antalyaspor and, most recently, Gornik Zabrze of the Polish top flight before his Cologne swan song.
