He's one of the best goalkeepers in history who helped shape an extraordinarily successful era for the German national team, and now Manuel Neuer has announced his retirement from international football. "Today marks the end of my career with the national team. It fills me with pride and a huge amount of gratitude to have played alongside all my teammates and to have captained the national team for over seven years," said Neuer in a video on his Instagram channel. "We've had many highs and lows. Everyone knows what the highlight was: the victory in the Maracanã Stadium against Argentina, when we were crowned world champions," the FC Bayern goalkeeper continued. "My thanks go to everyone who was part of my journey and to you, the fans. You've always supported me. I loved wearing the jersey of the German national team.’
FC Bayern president Herbert Hainer: "An era has come to an end - and what an era! We will all have to get used to no longer seeing Manuel Neuer in goal for the German national team. He was an unparalleled constant in the DFB team. Manuel Neuer is one of the greatest goalkeepers in German football, which has never lacked for great goalkeepers - and he's already a legend. Dear Manuel Neuer, thank you for this incredibly successful journey with the national team, the crowning glory of which was the World Cup victory in 2014."
FC Bayern CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen: "Manuel Neuer's retirement from the national team is a turning point of a rare kind. Manuel took goalkeeping to a whole new level worldwide and was an immovable cornerstone of the entire team structure since 2009. He is a superb captain, became world champion in 2014 and is one of the five most-capped German players in history. Everyone knows that when you have Manuel Neuer in goal, you don't really have to worry about a thing. Manuel is not only a reliable presence, but also a real leader, and we can look forward to many more fantastic moments with him in goal for FC Bayern."
FC Bayern board member for sport Max Eberl: "After Thomas Müller, Manuel Neuer is the next key player of the past two decades to retire from the national team. Manuel Neuer is much more than an outstanding goalkeeper and captain. He is a trophy and record collector on the pitch and an absolute leader that everyone looks up to. We are proud that players like him play for FC Bayern - and happy that he will continue to be in goal for us. Even though he's still playing, Manuel Neuer has already become one of the most influential figures in German football and sporting history."
Supervisory board member Karl-Heinz Rummenigge: "Manuel Neuer has already made history with his glittering career in the national team. In my opinion, he is the greatest goalkeeper German football has ever produced. He changed the goalkeeping game and raised it to a new level; he set the benchmark and ensured that goalkeepers all over the world emulated his style. His signing in 2011 was one of the best transfers FC Bayern have ever made. The decision to now focus exclusively on FC Bayern is logical and correct from Manuel's point of view - and he will do everything he can to ensure that the coming season is more successful than the last."
Neuer made his debut for the German national team on 2 June 2009 in a 7-2 victory in a friendly against the United Arab Emirates. He captained the side between 2016 and 2023. The goalkeeper took part in four World Cups and four European Championships. In 2014, he won the World Cup with Germany in Brazil and was also awarded the Golden Glove as the best goalkeeper of the tournament. In 2020, Neuer was voted national player of the year by the fans. With a total of 124 caps, he is the keeper with the most appearances in the history of the German national team.
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