Ilkay Gündoğan: DFB captain ends career

Ilkay Gündoğan (33) will no longer play for the German national football team. The current DFB captain said he had “come to the decision after a few weeks of consideration”. Gündoğan was appointed captain in September 2023 by the then national coach Hansi Flick (59) and also played in this position under Julian Nagelsmann (37) at this year’s home European Championships – for the midfielder, clearly his “highlight” in 13 years of national team career.

Being able to lead the German national team as captain at the European Championships on home soil was a “huge honour”. “After all these years, we have finally managed to make the nation proud again – the fact that I was able to play a part in this makes me very happy,” said Gündoğan. However, he had already thought about retiring before the tournament. The number of matches at club and national level is not decreasing, and at the same time he feels “a certain tiredness” in his body and head.

“I look back with great pride on 82 international matches for my home country – a number that I could never have dreamed of when I made my debut for the senior national team in 2011,” he wrote. He will “definitely remain a fan” of the national team and hopes “that the upward trend can continue together.” The 33-year-old can imagine that the DFB team could be one of the “closest title contenders” at the 2026 World Cup. “We have a fantastic coach, a really strong team and a great team spirit,” he sums up, and concludes by thanking everyone who has accompanied him on his journey. “It was an honor! Thank you, Germany!”

Ilkay Gündoğan played his first match for the senior national team in October 2011 in a European Championship qualifier against Belgium. In total, he played 82 international matches, 19 of them as captain. The midfielder scored 19 goals. It is not known what will happen to his club career. In 2023, Gündoğan moved from Manchester City to FC Barcelona after seven years. His contract expires at the end of June 2025.

National coach and teammates react to Gündoğan’s resignation

National coach Julian Nagelsmann praised Gündoğan as an “outstanding captain”. “I am very proud that İlkay was our captain. He often shone himself, and even more often he let others in the national team shine. We will miss his fine foot and his good ideas,” Nagelsmann said in a statement. He stressed that he would have liked to continue working with Gündoğan, but respected his decision.

Numerous teammates of Gündoğan have also reacted to the resignation. National player Robin Koch (28) commented: “It was an honour, captain!” Robert Andrich (29) shared a photo and wrote “Thanks, captain!”

“Thank you for everything, Capitano! It was an honour,” wrote DFB shooting star Jamal Musiala (21). Defender Antonio Rüdiger (31) also kept it short and sweet: “Thank you for everything, Gündo.”

Former national footballer Bastian Schweinsteiger (40) sent “Congratulations on your career with the DFB team!” Entrepreneur Carsten Maschmeyer (65) praised Gündoğan as a “midfield maestro”: “With his experience, calmness and leadership skills, he led the German team through turbulent times and always gave his all. He is a role model and a fighter.”