Low bids farewell to German national football team

By Emre Asikci

ISTANBUL (AA) - Joachim Low officially bid farewell to the German national team Thursday after 15 years at the helm.

The German Football Association (DFB) held a farewell ceremony for the legendary manager at Volkswagen Arena ahead of a FIFA World Cup European qualifiers match against Liechtenstein.

Low shared an emotional farewell message through the DFB's official website, saying “It was a fantastic time for which I will always be thankful."

"When I look back on everything now, with a bit of distance, I don’t just see that golden World Cup trophy. Rather, I see so many faces, ones I connect with fantastic memories, ones who I have had experiences with that will stay with me forever. I see friendships which have stood the tests of time, and tournaments and those unique experiences we have shared. These things have shaped us – not just on the pitch, but also our lives," he added.

In addition, 2014 World Cup winners Miroslav Klose, Sami Khedira, Benedikt Howedes, Lukas Podolski, Per Mertesacker and Mats Hummels said goodbye to Low in the stadium.

At the German team’s helm since 2006, Low, 61, led the national team to victory in the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.