Bodo Illgner is to leave Real Madrid after five seasons after he reached an agreement with the club to end his contract a year early.
The former German national keeper has not featured at all this season as Madrid romped to their 28th league title and has now arranged to be released from his contract on June 30.
Jorge Valdano wished him all the best and said:
"He has been a great servant to the club and the doors here will always be open to him."
Illgner was signed by
Fabio Capello in 1996 at the beginning of the Italian coach's only season in the Spanish capital, and went on to win two European Cups, two League Championship medals, one Intercontinental Cup and one Super Cup, to add to his 1990 World Cup winners' medal.
The 34-year-old spent 13 years at Cologne before joining Madrid, where he became a regular in the side, but midway through the 1999/2000 season he lost his place to young
Iker Casillas and has since failed to win it back.
Having slipped down the goalkeeping rankings to third at Real, behind
Casillas and
Cesar,
Illgner has decided to cut his losses.