German international hotshot plying trade in German NINTH tier

Max Kruse (2.R) of Germany celebrates with team mates after scoring his team's second goal during the UEFA EURO 2016 Group D qualifying match between Germany and Georgia at Stadium Leipzig on October 11, 2015 in Leipzig, Germany.

Max Kruse was playing top-flight football for Wolfsburg as recently as 2022 and represented Germany at the 2021 Olympics.

But at age 36, the 14-cap former full international is now plying his trade down in the German regional leagues, representing Kreisliga A side BSV Al-Dersimspor II.

For those not intimately familiar with the German football pyramid, that's Step 9 of the German league. The equivalent of the English Counties League Premier Divisions, is where the likes of Tadcaster Albion, West Didsbury & Chorlton, Barnstaple Town and Tooting & Mitcham play.

VIDEO How Guardiola Has Invented A New Position For Rico Lewis

Max Kruse playing grassroots football after professional retirement

Kruse was a prolific top-level striker throughout his Bundesliga career, reaching double figures for Freiburg, Borussia Monchengladbach, Werder Bremen and Union Berlin.

The goalscoring playmaker was considered a tad unlucky not to have made it into the triumphant 2014 World Cup squad a decade ago, but was one of 16 Mannschaft players selected to be rendered in Lego form in 2016 alongside the likes of Manuel Neuer, Mesut Ozil and Thomas Muller.

At his peak, Kruse was a part of Germany's national setup around the time they won the World Cup (Image credit: Getty Images)

Kruse can look by with pride on his playing career and now seems to be enjoying playing away from the spotlight.

Kruse made his return to Wolfsburg in January 2022 and scored seven goals in 14 games for the out-of-form side to help them stay clear of the relegation zone, but departed later that year.

Kruse has done punditry and podcasting (Image credit: Getty Images)

After a short stint with second-tier Paderborn last year, Kruse announced his retirement from professional football

Kruse now co-hosts a podcast with former Werder Bremen teammate Martin Harnik, and has regularly appeared at big-money poker tournaments around the world since 2014.

More stories

Cristiano Ronaldo tipped for ANOTHER sensational shock return to Old Trafford

REVEALED: The football clubs with the biggest social media followings

Quiz! Name every UCL finalist since 2000 to have played in the Premier League