Germany’s legendary goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has announced his retirement from the German national team at the age of 38. He is the fourth German player to leave the national team after the 2024 Euro Championship.
In the discussion of the best goalkeeper of all time, the name of Manuel Neuer also comes in the same row with Lev Yasin, Gianluigi Buffon, Iker Casius. He won all possible titles in the club’s jersey. He also won the World Cup title in the jersey of the national team. He was Germany’s first hope under the goal post in the last Euro Championship as well. But this time he said goodbye to international football.
The match against Spain in the quarter-finals of the Euros in Germany’s jersey turned out to be his last match in the national team career. Neuer played 124 matches in Germany’s jersey. Toni Kroos, Thomas Müller and Ilkay Gundowan have all bid farewell to the national team one by one since the Euros and before Neuer.
Manuel Neuer’s farewell message
Announcing his retirement through a video on social media, Neuer said, ‘Everyone who knows me knows how difficult it was for me to make this decision. I am in very good physical shape and the World Cup in 2026 in the USA, Canada and Mexico appeals to me. At the same time, I also feel that this is the best time to make this decision and focus on my future at Bayern Munich. This is the perfect time to reinvent myself and I am proud of that. Winning the World Cup in 2014 and the special atmosphere at home this year, the Euro Championship will hold a special place in my career and I am especially grateful for that.’
Neuer, who leads the German national team, added, ‘It is a great honour for me to lead the national team until 2023. I love wearing the German national team jersey.’
Manuel Neuer contribution to football
Manuel Neuer is also credited with establishing the sweeper keeper role. In 2009 he made his debut in the national team. Robert Enck’s suicide in 2009 and René Adler’s injury before the 2010 World Cup gave Neuer the chance to man Germany’s goal post at the World Cup. In his first World Cup, Neuer took his team to the semi-finals. This sweeper keeper has made an important contribution as Germany became the world champion in the 2014 World Cup.
Manuel Neuer got into the national team in 2018. He has participated in four World Cups and four Euro Championships for Germany. Bayern will start the campaign to regain the league title with a match against Wolfsburg next Sunday.
