Bayern Munich captain Lahm out for three months with broken ankle

Published Nov. 18, 2014 8:38 a.m. ET

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Bayern Munich captain Philipp Lahm has been ruled out of action for three months after suffering a broken ankle in training.

Lahm, who retired from international football after Germany's World Cup win in July, suffered the injury on Tuesday morning and hospitals tests revealed his injury will require surgery.

Bayern confirmed the news on Twitter saying: "Big blow for Philipp Lahm the captain has suffered a fractured ankle needs an operation and he will be out for around three months."

Lahm has been a key player for Pep Guardiola's team this season, successfully switching between his new midfield role and the right-back position he played for years.

In an interview on the Bavarian club's website published on Tuesday morning, Lahm said he has never regretted his decision to quit playing for Germany.

"It's very nice to have a few days off and to be able to switch off, recover and spend time with your family," he said.

"It does you good. In recent years, I've been used to playing practically every midweek, or at least it seemed that way.

"But my retirement was not something that just happened in the summer - I had given it a lot of thought before, and it is not like I have quit playing football altogether.

"So when I sit (and watch Germany play), I'm not in any way wishing I was there playing with them. Instead, I know that I'll be playing at the Allianz Arena against Hoffenheim next week."

Bayern are already without injured goalkeepers Tom Starke and Pepe Reina, defenders Holger Badstuber and David Alaba, midfielders Thiago Alcantara, Javi Martinez and Bastian Schweinsteiger.

The German champions top the Bundesliga and have secured the fastest Champions League group win by any German team with two games to spare.