Kahn confirms his retirement date

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BERLIN, Germany -- Bayern Munich goalkeeper Oliver Kahn confirmed on Sunday that he will hang up his boots at the end of next season.

His club had hoped he would sign a contract extension but Kahn reiterated his desire to call it quits after one more campaign.

"My career as a goalkeeper will definitely end on June 30, 2008," the 37-year-old told Die Welt newspaper.

Kahn is still the first choice keeper at Bayern but has been surpassed by Arsenal's Jens Lehmann in the national team set-up and retired from the German team after the World Cup.

"Just like I did with the national team, I will leave at the top. I don't want to find myself in the situation where someone decides for me," he added.

Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge tried to urge Kahn to change his mind last month and sign a new contract.

However, that angered Kahn's understudy at Bayern, Michael Rensing, who has long been touted as the natural successor to the emblematic Kahn.

But Bayern bosses later confirmed that 22-year-old Rensing was indeed the man for the future.

"We signed him for that and for the moment, that's what should happen in 2008," said the Munich club's general manager Uli Hoeness.

Rensing will play in the crucial Champions League quarterfinal first leg against AC Milan on Tuesday as Kahn is banned for one match for arguing with a doping official after the previous round.

Kahn retired from the national team after 86 caps and he was voted player of the tournament at the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea.

He began his career at Karslruhe before moving to Bayern where he has won seven league titles, five cups, the Champions League in 2001 and the UEFA Cup in 1996.

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