Philipp Lahm becomes a Bayern Royalty

Philipp Lahm has celebrated his retirement by joining an elite club at Bayern Munich.

Lahm has played his entire career with the German giants, with the exception of a brief loan spell at Stuttgart, winning eight Bundesliga titles and the Champions League.

And now, unsurprisingly, he has become the 17th player to be inducted into Bayern's Hall of Fame.

BAYERN HALL OF FAME MEMBERS

Konrad Heidkamp (1928-1944)

Franz Beckenbauer (1963-1977)

Franz Roth (1966–1978) 

Gerd Muller (1964-1979)

Uli Hoeness (1970-1979) 

Sepp Maier (1962-1980) 

Hans-Georg Scwarzenbeck (1966-1981) 

Paul Breitner (1970-1974, 1978-1983) 

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (1974-1984)

Klaus Augenthaler (1976-1991)

Lothar Matthaus (1984-1988, 1992-2000) 

Gievane Elber (1997-2003) 

Stefan Effenberg (1990-1992, 1998-2002) 

Bixente Lizarazu (1997-2004, 2005-2006)

Mehmet Scholl (1992-2007)

Oliver Kahn (1994-2008)

Philipp Lahm (2002-2017)

The full-back, who also won 113 caps for Germany, is the first player to be inducted since goalkeeper Oliver Kahn, who retired in 2008. 

Lahm was presented with a Hall of Fame blazer as his star was unveiled at the club's museum on Monday, nine days after the last of his 517 appearances.

And the German legend was quick to mention how much that final outing - a 4-1 win over Freiburg to cap a fifth straight Bundesliga title - had meant to him.

'Last Saturday was incredibly emotional for me and my last day will remain etched in my memory forever,' Lahm said. 

Bayern president Uli Hoeness, another member of the Hall of Fame, also paid tribute to Lahm.

'Philipp is a wonderful example for the tradition and down-to-earth nature of the club,' he said.

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Bayern CEO and another of those already on the list, added: 'Philipp Lahm is one of the most deserving players in the recent history of Bayern.

'Both on the pitch and off in his role as captain, he has been a truly important person for the club.

'He deserves this accolade, which puts him up there with the greats of Bayern. The club would like to thank Philipp Lahm for the exceptional performances he has shown for Bayern.'