Manuel Neuer announces international retirement
Germany and Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has announced his retirement from international football.
The 38-year-old, who made his debut in 2009 against the United Arab Emirates, picked up 124 caps across a 15-year career with his country - a number which puts him fifth on the all-time list behind Lothar Matthäus, Miroslav Klose, Thomas Müller and Lukas Podolski.
After helping Germany to the semi-finals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, he played in all of the national side's seven matches four year later in Brazil as Joachim Löw's outfit were crowned champions of the world and Neuer continued to revolutionise the goalkeeping game.
Following Bastian Schweinsteiger's retirement in 2016, the Schalke youth product was given the captain's armband and led his country to the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, as well as the 2021 UEFA European Championships. On home soil this past summer, he started each game as Germany reached the quarter-finals.
"Everyone who knows me is aware this was not an easy decision," Neuer said in a video on his official Instagram page.
"We have had lots of highs and lows together, with the victory in the 2014 World Cup final against Argentina at the Maracana obviously my best moment in a Germany shirt."
"As I reflect on my international career, I am proud and grateful to have been able to share the pitch with my teammates and also wear the captain's armband for six years."
"To recover from a serious injury and play for Germany at a home Euros was the crowning glory. I would like to thank the DFB, staff, teammates and fans for their support through the good times and the bad."
Watch: Manuel Neuer - The sweeper keeper
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Neuer's retirement is effective immediately, meaning Julian Nagelsmann will be without his services for Germany's upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures against Hungary and the Netherlands in September.
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