World Cup Winner Manuel Neuer Ends Illustrious Germany Career

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Manuel Neuer has announced his retirement from international football, ending a 15-year career with the German national team. Neuer, who earned 124 caps for Germany, joins Toni Kroos, Thomas Muller, and Ilkay Gundogan in stepping away from international duties. The Bayern Munich captain's last match for Germany was a 2-1 loss to Spain in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals.

Neuer was part of Joachim Low's squad that won the World Cup in 2014. During the tournament, he kept four clean sheets and won the Golden Glove award. Over his career, Neuer played 11,100 minutes for Germany, securing 51 clean sheets and conceding 118 goals. He also won 81 of his matches out of the total 124 appearances.

Reflecting on his career, Neuer expressed pride and gratitude. "Looking back today, I am filled with pride and gratitude! Not least because we met on 13th July 2014, we were able to fulfil our big dream and together became world champions in Brazil," he wrote. He also mentioned leading the team as captain for seven years and 61 games until his injury.

Neuer finishes as Germany's fifth-highest appearance maker. Only Lukas Podolski (130), Thomas Muller (131), Miroslav Klose (137), and Lothar Matthaus (150) have more caps than him. His retirement paves the way for Marc Andre ter Stegen of Barcelona to become Germany's first-choice goalkeeper.

The veteran goalkeeper also thanked everyone who supported him throughout his career. "Many thanks to all the staff, supervisors, coaches and also fellow players who have supported me since my debut in the national team on 02 June 2009! And I especially want to thank you, dear fans, for supporting me all these years! I loved wearing the national team jersey," he added.

Neuer's contributions extended beyond just playing; he felt a special connection with fans during this year's home European Championship despite not winning the title. "This year's home European Championship was another highlight, even if it unfortunately wasn't enough for the title. Because, in every second, I felt a very special euphoria and cohesion all over the country. Let's keep that in mind!"

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Throughout eight major tournaments, Neuer made significant contributions to his team's success. His leadership on and off the field has been invaluable to Germany over the years.

As Neuer steps down from international football, his legacy remains intact as one of Germany’s greatest goalkeepers. His achievements will be remembered by fans and teammates alike.