New Delhi: Former Germany captain Manuel Neuer has called time on a 15-year-long career with the Germany National Football team where he made 124 appearances for the side and represented them at eight major International tournaments. The legendary keeper replaced Jens Lehmann in goal at the 2010 World Cup and went on to hold the starting spot for over a decade.
Neuer reached the heights of winning the 2014 FIFA World Cup with Die Mannschaft, which helped him finish in the top three of that year’s Ballon d’Or rankings. His game against Spain in the quarter-final of the UEFA Euro 2024 proved to be his last for the national team as he heads to the twilight of his career at the ripe old age of 38. He made his debut for his country in 2009 and served them well for 15 long years.
Germany crashed out in the quarterfinals of UEFA Euro 2024 on home soil, denying Neuer the perfect send-off that his legendary career deserved. Ever since Germany’s exit from the tournament, it seemed that the Neuer would join former teammate Toni Kroos in retirement and he finally announced his decision on social media earlier today. His retirement post on Instagram read, “The day had to come at some point. Today my career with the German national team ends. Everyone who knows me knows that this decision wasn’t easy for me.”
World Cup winner Manuel Neuer announces his international retirement after 15 years and 124 apps.
A Germany icon 🧤 pic.twitter.com/85DzuOcQr1
— B/R Football (@brfootball) August 21, 2024
German National Team manager Julen Nagelsmann also had a comprehensive conversation with the keeper who informed the manager of his decision on Wednesday morning. The goalkeeper now solely wants to focus on his club duties with Bayern Munich and will be looking to help his team reach the UEFA Champions League final as the final is scheduled to be played at their home ground of Allianz Arena in Munich.
Neuer becomes the fourth German player to announce their retirement after the UEFA European Championships, following the retirements of Toni Kroos, Thomas Mueller, and their captain at the UEFA Euro 2024, Ilkay Gundogan. Neuer’s 124 caps, in which he kept 51 clean sheets, saw him become the most-capped goalkeeper for Germany.
The German national team have always been blessed with world-class keepers, so they shouldn’t have a lot of trouble in finding the right person to follow in his footsteps, but whoever gets the number one spot, Marc Andre-ter Stegen most likely, will have huge boots to fill.
Germany Number one Manuel Neuer calls time on a glorious International career with the German National Team 15 years after making his International debut Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
