World Cup winner retires from the German national team

It sounds almost unbelievable, but Bayern Munich‘s keeper Manuel Neuer decided to retire at the age of 38. But not from the club competition, only from the international duty. Neuer will still be Bayern‘s number one keeper, but after consultations with his family and Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann, he decided it was time to end his international career. In a statement on social media, he said that he plans to "concentrate fully" on playing for Bayern, with whom he has won two Champions Leagues and 11 Bundesliga titles.

"It was a great time which shaped me and of which I am very proud. Winning the World Cup title in 2014 and the special atmosphere during the European Championship at home this year are highlights for which I am extremely grateful. It was an honour for me to be captain of our national team until 2023. I loved wearing the Germany jersey" he wrote.

From 2010 until 2016, Neuer and Germany made it to the final four of every major tournament. He shone at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and was named as the tournament's best goalkeeper as Germany won the trophy for the fourth time. Apart from Neuer, Thomas Mueller, Ilkay Gundogan and Toni Kroos also said goodbye to the German national team after the conclusion of EURO 2024.

For the Germans, age is just a number

A product of the Schalke academy in his home town of Gelsenkirchen, Neuer made his international debut in 2009 and has more caps than any other Germany goalkeeper. Germany won 81 of the 124 matches Neuer played, and he kept 51 clean sheets. The retirement clears the way for long-time back-up Marc-Andre ter Stegen of Barcelona, who is expected to take over from the Bayern captain as Germany's number one. He waited for this moment for 12 years, after his first call in 2012, and finally, at the age of 32, the number 1 shirt is his.