‘Big Dan’ has hung up his boots, calling time on a 16 year career that involved a eight year spell at Bayern Munich, along with stints at Hamburger, Marseille, Standard Liege, Manchester City, and Charleroi, where he started his career in 1998.

The 36-year-old’s contract with Munich ran out this summer, after a relatively successful World Cup in Brazil, where he gained the last of his 84 caps for The Red Devils, ending as the fifth most capped player in their history.

Although pursued by Anderlecht back in his home country, he declined the offer to take retirement. In an open letter to the Belgian newspaper Le Derniere Heure, he stated “Those who know me well know that when I engage in a project, I do so at 100 per cent. I have tried over the past few weeks but my body tells me it's impossible. I don't want to disappoint a club like Anderlecht and its supporters”

The 6ft 6 defender began his first-team career quite late, breaking into the Charleroi side aged 20. It didn’t take long for him to be poached at The Zebras, with Pro League giants Standard Liege securing the players services ahead of the 1999/2000 season. He featured 57 times over his two seasons at the club, scoring an impressive seven goals from centre-back, due to his superb heading prowess.

His move in 2001 was an important one for him, as he moved to France with Marseille as well as securing his place in the Belgian national team in the same year.

That first cap came in a 10-1 demolition versus San Marino, before he headed home his first international goal on his second appearance, an equaliser against Scotland. His impressive performances in Ligue 1 led to him leading the backline for Belgium in the 2002 World Cup, though could not lead them past the eventual Champions Brazil in the last 16.

During his time with Marseille, he also had his first taste of Champions League football, as they crashed out in the group stages to Real Madrid, and eventual winners FC Porto in the 2003/04 season. He earned himself a loan move to Premier League Manchester City in the same year, where he largely played back-up to Richard Dunne and Sylvain Distin – though managed five appearances for them.

It was a largely unsuccessful loan spell, as he was also targeted by thieves – two bankers at the Co-operative Bank – who stole £350,000 from him and two other players of the squad in that season.

Despite his contract running out at Marseille, he wasn’t short of offers for the 2004/05 season. It the end, he chose Germany, and Hamburger SV – where he had large boots to fill, as he was brought in as the replacement for captain Nico-Jan Hoogma, who had helped his side to an 8th place finish the season before.

Van Buyten helped Die Rothosen to another 8th place finish – on top of an Intertoto Cup victory - before a third place berth the season after earned them Champions League football, and for ‘Big Dan’, a move to rivals Bayern Munich.

His first season for the Bavarians led to him playing 46 times, alongside Lucio in the centre of defence, as Die Roten could only finish fourth, and were knocked out in the Champions League Quarter Finals to AC Milan.

The next two seasons were much more fruitful for his side, as they scooped consecutive Bundesliga and DFB Pokal doubles as well as a Super Cup win in 2010.

He managed a rare feat in December 2011, striking a costless-kick so hard that the ball burst, in a season he only managed 13 first-team appearances but scored four times as Dortmund stormed to the title by eight points.

Van Buyten continued to play a bit-part role in the Bayern team, playing 41 times over the past two seasons where he was part of the treble winning side of 2012/13, and the double winners of last year.

His eight year spell harboured 250 appearances in all competitions for the European giants, and will go down as one of most accomplished defenders in the 21st century, for his achievements at club and national level.

It is unclear what is next for the 36 year old, though it seems he may well take a break from the game, stating in his letter that, “A new life begins for me and I want to spend more time with my wife, my children, and the people I love"