Manuel Neuer Announces Retirement from International Football
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German World Cup winning goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has announced his retirement from international football, after making his debut nearly 15 years ago.
The Bayern Munich star, 38, issued a video statement on his Instagram, recounting some of his most favoured memories with his national side before thanking the German Football Association (DFB).
‘Dear fans, dear football Germany,’ he began.
‘The day had to come at some point. Today is the end of my career with the German national football team. Everyone who knows me knows that this decision was not an easy one.
‘It has been over 15 years since my debut, when we played against the United Arab Emirates and I was extremely nervous.
German World Cup winning goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has announced his retirement from international football
Neuer, who made his international debut back in 2009 during a friendly against the United Arab Emirates, would go on to earn 124 caps for Die Mannschaft and make 51 clean sheets.
‘We have had many ups and downs with the national team. I think everyone knows the highlight. The victory in the Maracana stadium against Argentina, where we became world champions,’ he said.
Neuer has featured in four World Cup tournaments with Germany
‘When I look back today, it fills me with pride and a lot of gratitude. To have been on the pitch with all my teammates and to have been captain of the German national team for over seven years until my injury.
‘What happened after that was an encore for me and the fact that I managed to stand on the pitch again at a home European Championship was the crowning glory.’
He is the second high-profile Germany international to announce their retirement in recent weeks after Ilkay Gundogan announced he too would be stepping down from the German national side on Monday.
Neuer added: ‘My thanks go to all the DFB employees. First and foremost, of course, to the coaches, the goalkeeping coaches, and all the staff members. We were really a family and, above all, to the teammates, with whom it was always fun to be on the pitch and train.’
More to follow…
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