Berlin, Jun 24 (IANS): The 34-year-old Chicago Fire defender Arne Friedrich retired from professional football due to physical discomforts.

Friedrich, who played 82 times for the German national football team and participated in two FIFA World Cups, retired because of continuous back pain from a herniated disc, reports Xinhua.

"After much consideration and consultation with my doctors and physical therapists I have decided to finish my professional football career. The last couple of weeks and months I have been suffering from increasing back pain. With two herniated discs in my lower back, I am no longer able to fulfil the demands of a professional footballer," Friedrich said in a statement Sunday.

Thus, the German defender voided his contract with Chicago Fire to retire with immediate effect.

Friedrich spent most of his senior career in Berlin where he played eight years, from 2002 until 2010, to score 13 goals in 231 matches. Thereafter he played on short term basis for Wolfsburg and Chicago Fire. Besides, he was part of the 'Nationalmannschaft' from 2002 until 2011 to score one goal in 82 caps.