Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has said the club had been in advanced talks with Philipp Lahm over the vacant sporting director post and were surprised he turned it down.
Lahm, 33, retires from playing at the end of the season and was linked with the sporting director post, which has been unoccupied since Matthias Sammer resigned last summer.
However, both the 2014 World Cup winner and Borussia Monchengladbach sporting director Max Eberl have ruled themselves out.
Rummenigge told dpa: "There has been much speculation around this.
"It's a fact that we were in advanced talks with Philipp Lahm and would have liked him to do it.
"He, to our surprise, turned down the offer. We have to respect that decision."
However, Rummenigge added that the left-back could still return to the club at a later stage, saying: "The door is not closed. Let's await developments with calmness."