Manuel Neuer 'filled with pride and gratitude' as Germany legend announces retirement from international football
Published 21/08/2024 at 15:36 GMT+1
Manuel Neuer is the latest Germany national team veteran to step away from representing his country, after winning 124 international caps. The Bayern Munich goalkeeper’s announcement has been made just two days after Ilkay Gundogan made the same decision, with Thomas Muller and the retired Toni Kroos also now unavailable to head coach Julian Nagelsmann.
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Germany and Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer says he is “filled with pride and gratitude” after announcing his retirement from international football.
The 38-year-old is the latest to call time on playing for his country, following Ilkay Gundogan just two days ago and Thomas Muller last month, with Toni Kroos retiring from the game completely.
Neuer won the first of his senior caps for Germany 15 years ago in a friendly with the United Arab Emirates and has gone on to win 124 caps, the last of which was on home soil during a Euro 2024 quarter-final defeat to eventual champions, Spain.
The goalkeeper played a key role in his country winning the FIFA World Cup in 2014, a first win for his nation since West Germany’s 1990 title.
Head coach Julian Nagelsmann will now oversee an overhaul of his squad ahead of the UEFA Nations League, without a number of veterans who have represented the team for over a decade, with Barcelona keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen the favourite to become the new number one.
“After over 15 years and 124 national games, my career in the German national football team ends today,” Neuer said in a post on Instagram.
“Anyone who knows me, knows that I didn’t make this decision lightly. After many intense and long discussions with my family and friends, I have decided that right now is the right time to close my chapter.
“Looking back today, I am filled with pride and gratitude. Not least because on the 13th July 2014 we were able to fulfil our big dream and together became world champions in Brazil.
“For a total of 7 years and 61 games, I was allowed - up to my injury - to lead the German national team as captain on the field. An honour that I appreciated every time.”
Neuer signed off his post with a “thank you”, saying he “loved wearing the national jersey”.
In the build-up to Euro 2024, there were questions around whether the former skipper would play in goal ahead of Ter Stegen.
But Neuer played throughout the tournament and made several outstanding saves in the last eight defeat to Spain, which turned out to be his final match.
He has one year left on his contract at Bayern, who are now managed by former Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany.
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