Germany's Celia Šašić retires from football

Germany striker Celia Šašić has announced her retirement from football at the age of 27.

Šašić was top scorer in last season's UEFA Women's Champions League – which 1. FFC Frankfurt won – Frauen-Bundesliga and FIFA Women's World Cup. She cited "new challenges" for the decision to hang up her boots. "I am looking foward to many new things in my life: my university studies, a new orientation job-wise and starting a family among many other things," explained Šašić, who on Wednesday was announced as one of 12 nominees for the 2014/15 UEFA Best Women's Player in Europe Award.

A UEFA Women's EURO 2009 and 2013 winner, the 111-cap forward took the 2015 World Cup Golden Boot with six goals as her nation finished fourth. Šašić, on target 63 times at senior international level, scored a record-equalling 14 in Frankfurt's UEFA Women's Champions League campaign last term, including the opener in the 2-1 final defeat of Paris Saint-Germain in Berlin.

Known as Okoyino da Mbabi before her 2013 marriage to Croatian footballer Marko Šašić, the 2004 FIFA U-19 Women's World Cup winner and 2008 Olympic bronze medallist began reading cultural studies at Koblenz-Landau University in 2009. Šašić, who joined Frankfurt from Bad Neuenahr in 2013, cancelled her contract in May.

"During my 11 years in the women's Bundesliga and over ten years in the national team I had some unforgettable experiences and was part of an amazing development, which makes me proud," said Šašić, who has been working as an ambassador for integration for the German Football Association (DFB) and as a development assistant for girls and women's football.

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What they say…
Silvia Neid, Germany coach
I regret Celia‘s decision, but I can understand it as well. Football is not everything in life and there comes a point when you have to set other priorities. For us, it's a huge loss because Celia is an outstanding personality leaving behind huge footprints. She was always a role model, on and off the pitch

Milan Šašić, father-in-law and experienced coach
Celia is a wonderful woman with an unbelievable positive charisma. She has a social mindset, is always helpful and sympathetic. A real ray of sunshine!

Colin Bell, Frankfurt coach
Celia is a forward who likes to score goals but puts in a high work rate defensively as well. Her determination to always deliver 100% for the team is a superb quality.

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
Celia Šašić is one of the faces of women's football in Germany, she unites many cultures in one person. Once she has the ball at her feet she will most often look for the straightest path towards goal. That's why the name Šašić ranks very high up in the statistics of women's football in Germany.