By Humberto Viera
Aug 21, 2024, 12:34 PM EDT
German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer announced his retirement from the German national team on Wednesday, bringing to a close a 15-year chapter of service with the German team.
In an emotional statement shared on social media, the Bayern Munich goalkeeper revealed that making this decision was “difficult,” but expressed gratitude for his long career with the national team, where he was captain for seven years.
“It’s been more than 15 years since my first game in the United Arab Emirates. I was nervous that day, but over time, those nerves turned into pride. Having been part of this team and captaining it until my injury is something I will always carry with me. I’m glad that my farewell was at the European Championship in my country,” said Neuer.
The goalkeeper said the most memorable moment of his international career was the victory at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, an achievement he described as the “highlight” of his time with the national team. During that tournament, his performance was decisive in Germany lifting the trophy, and he was internationally recognised by finishing third in the voting for the Ballon d’Or that year.
With 124 caps, Neuer is the fifth-most capped player in Germany’s history. He made his debut on 2 June 2009, when he was still playing for Schalke 04, and quickly won the trust of coach Joachim Löw. The latter did not hesitate to start him in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, and has since established him as the team’s undisputed goalkeeper.
Following Euro 2016 in France, Neuer took over as captain of the Mannschaft, succeeding Bastian Schweinsteiger, a role he held until 2023.
During his international career, Neuer participated in four World Cups and four European Championships, the last of which was the tournament held in his country in 2024, where Germany was eliminated in the quarter-finals by Spain.
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