Nice center-back Dante has officially retired and will return to Bayern Munich to take over as U23 coach.

Nice announced on Tuesday that Brazilian center-back Dante has ended his 23-year professional career, effective immediately.

The 42-year-old Dante started his career at Juventude in 2003, and subsequently played for Lille, Real Charleroi, Standard Liège, Borussia Mönchengladbach, Bayern Munich, and Wolfsburg. Since joining Nice in August 2016, he has made 329 appearances over ten years, scoring 8 goals and providing 12 assists.

In his retirement statement released by Nice, Dante expressed his heartfelt gratitude: "I am deeply grateful to FC Nice for everything they have given me and my family over the past extraordinary decade. We have shared many wonderful times, overcome numerous challenges, shared immense joy, and forged an unbreakable bond."

“I’m very happy that the team has successfully avoided relegation this season. I feel that I have done everything I could and given my all until the very last moment. A new chapter is about to begin, but I leave with a heart full of gratitude.”

“I am about to leave Nice, but my story with Nice is far from over. We will meet again,” he concluded.

As for his next steps after retirement, Dante has already made plans. He will take over as the head coach of Bayern Munich's U23 team starting next season, succeeding Holger Costa Santos.

This move also means that Dante will return to Munich after an 11-year absence. He played for Bayern Munich from 2012 to 2015, making 133 appearances and contributing 5 goals and 8 assists, winning one Champions League title, one Club World Cup title, four Bundesliga titles, three German Cup titles, one UEFA Super Cup title, and one German Super Cup title with the team.

Dante expressed his excitement about the appointment from Bayern Munich, saying, "I am thrilled to return to my former club Bayern as the youth academy coach and I sincerely thank the management for their trust in me. Bayern's youth academy has produced many excellent young players, and they first need to prove themselves in the reserve team. My coaching team and I hope to do our best to guide them at this crucial stage and help them get closer to their goal of becoming professional players. I look forward to working with all the players, staff, and management."

Image source: Internet/Bayern Munich official website