Bayern Munich defender Philipp Lahm confirmed after the club's game with Wolfsburg on Tuesday that he will retire at the end of the season.

The German 2014 World Cup winner made his 501st appearance for the Bundesliga giants at the Allianz Arena as they progressed to the quarter-finals of the German Cup after beating Wolfsburg 1-0.

Speaking after the game, Lahm, a youth product of Bayern, who made his senior debut for the German side in 2002, admitted that he would not be able to keep playing at the top level after the end of the season.

'I will end my career at the end of season,' Lahm told reporters. 'I have informed club officials about my decision.

'I can continue with my leadership style, giving my best every day, in every training, until the end of the season.

'I can keep doing it this season but not beyond,' he said.

The 33-year-old defender was one of the best full-backs in the world for the better part of a decade before he moved into a midfield role in recent seasons with the reigning Bundesliga champions.

Lahm, who retired from international duty after he captained Germany to the 2014 World Cup title, came through Bayern's ranks and he will be hoping to claim more titles with the side before he hangs up his boots.

Meanwhile, German publication Sport Bild have reported that Lahm refused the sporting director role at Bayern.

The Bundesliga giants held a supervisory board meeting on Monday where they offered him the position, however, Lahm refused the role offered by the club.

On the chance to join Bayern's backroom staff, Lahm said: 'There were talks, and in the end I decided it's not the right time for me to take up a new position at Bayern.'