Former Bayern player's admission: "Too often beer and burgers"

After 300 Bundesliga games, 49 caps for the German national team, and countless trophies, Niklas Süle retired last summer at the age of just 31.

The defender, who was most recently under contract with Borussia Dortmund, now plays in the amateur Kreisliga, where he has rediscovered his love for the game.

"Maybe drank three beers too often"

Towards the end of his professional career, Süle had to contend with several setbacks, notably struggling with recurring injuries. His fitness levels were also frequently criticized.

Now, the 31-year-old has spoken openly about his career on the podcast "After The Final Whistle". "Maybe I drank three beers too often in my career and ate at McDonald's," Süle admitted.

"Football was not my life"

"I didn't want to feel like I was living only for this (professional football, ed.) for the next 15 years. Life is too short to only do one thing," said the German, who made the majority of his professional appearances for FC Bayern (171).

"I've always loved football, but I was never a player who put everything into football every single day. For me, football wasn't my life," Süle said.

On the podcast, the former international also addressed the mental toll of professional sports, recounting, among other things, a panic attack on his way to training.