Franck Ribery has said he thought about leaving Bayern Munich early in his career after interest from the biggest clubs in Europe, but credits Uli Hoeness and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge for convincing him to stay at the club.
Ribery, 33, who signed for Bayern from Marseille in 2007, told Kicker: "All the big clubs wanted me in 2008, 2009.
"Of course I thought about a move," he said before citing Juventus, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester (United) as the parties interested in securing his services.
Rummenigge disclosed earlier this month that Bayern turned down a Chelsea offer of €65 million plus Jose Bosingwa for Ribery nine years ago, saying the decision was "a milestone in the development" of the club.
And Ribery paid tribute to the influential role played by then general manager Hoeness and CEO Rummenigge in persuading him to stay.
"In hindsight, I have to thank Uli Hoeness and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge for speaking regularly to me back then," Ribery said.
"I've now been here for 10 years and have won everything. My family is doing well and I am happy."
The former France international signed a contract extension in November, agreeing a deal to stay until the summer of 2018.
With over a decade of sterling service under his belt, Ribery can envisage staying on even longer when he ends his playing career.
"I have always said Bayern are my last club in Europe. I will play until my knee, my ankle or my back say stop. If I remain free of injury, I might still have two or three more years at the top level.
"I have a really good relationship with Bayern. Maybe, I'll become a coach after retirement, but with the youth teams."