Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has announced his retirement from international football following Euro 2024.
Neuer, who has earned 124 caps for the national team, joins Ilkay Gundogan, Thomas Muller, and Toni Kroos in retiring from international duty after this summer’s tournament. Germany reached the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 before being eliminated by eventual winners Spain.
He said in a video on Instagram: “Everyone who knows me knows that this decision was not easy for me. I feel very good physically and of course the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico would have been very appealing to me.
“At the same time, I am convinced that now is exactly the right time to take this step and to concentrate fully on FC Bayern Munich in the future. It was a great time that shaped me and of which I am very proud.
“Winning the World Cup in 2014 and the special atmosphere during the European Championships 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 jersey of the German national team.”
Neuer will be remembered as a true German football icon. He was a key member of the team that won the World Cup in 2014 and is widely considered the pioneer of the sweeper-keeper role.
Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann will now have to find a new starting goalkeeper for his team. Barcelona’s Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Hoffenheim’s Oliver Baumann are both potential candidates, with ter Stegen having served as Neuer’s backup for many years.
Neuer will continue his club career at Bayern Munich under new manager Vincent Kompany.
Meanwhile, Nagelsmann will focus on building a new team as Germany prepares for upcoming Nations League fixtures against Hungary and the Netherlands in September.
