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Miroslav Klose leaving Bayern Munich

Ap
Monday 06 June 2011 13:54 BST
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(GETTY IMAGES)

Germany striker Miroslav Klose is leaving Bayern Munich after failing to agree a new contract with the Bundesliga club.

The Polish-born Klose has been at Bayern for the past four seasons, scoring 24 goals in 98 Bundesliga games. His contract expires at the end of the month.

"Unfortunately the talks with Miroslav Klose have not produced a positive result," Bayern's chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said in a statement on Monday. "We would have gladly extended his contract, but we couldn't find common ground on the duration."

Bayern was willing to give Klose a one-year extension, while the striker wanted a two-year deal. Klose, who won the German double with Bayern in 2008 and 2010, turns 33 on Thursday.

Klose's destination was not known.

"I had four beautiful and successful years in Munich and I'd like to sincerely thank Bayern for that," Klose said in the statement. "It was always something special to be able to play for this club."

Klose has played 109 games for Germany and scored 61 goals, putting him second on the all-time list behind Gerd Mueller's 68.

He will miss Germany's European Championship qualifier in Azerbaijan on Tuesday due to injury.

Klose is coming off a quiet season with Bayern, where he was mostly a backup for Mario Gomez, the Bundesliga's top scorer with 28 goals. Klose managed only one goal in 20 appearances.

But Klose remains Germany coach Joachim Loew's striker of choice and usually gets the nod ahead of Gomez, if fit.

With 14 goals at three World Cup tournaments, Klose is tied for second place with Mueller — one goal less than record holder Ronaldo of Brazil.

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