World goalkeeper and World Cup hero of 2014: National goalkeeper Manuel Neuer ends his DFB career after 15 years and 124 international matches.
This means that the last World Cup hero from 2014 is now retiring: national goalkeeper Manuel Neuer (38) has ended his DFB career. He announced this on Wednesday afternoon (21 August). “Thank you, Germany! I loved wearing the national team jersey,” Neuer said in a video.
In the clip, the long-time national goalkeeper explains: “Dear fans, dear football Germany. This day had to come at some point. Today marks the end of my career with the German national football team. Everyone who knows me knows that this decision was not easy for me.”
15 years with the DFB team
His clear highlight in his 15-year DFB career was the World Cup title in 2014 in Brazil. It fills him with “pride and a lot of gratitude” when he looks back on his career today and that he wore the captain’s armband for seven years. “Everything that came after that was just an encore for me personally.” The home European Championship this summer was the crowning achievement.
Manuel Neuer began his career with the senior national team in 2009 in an international match against the United Arab Emirates. At the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, he became the national team’s number one goalkeeper. With 124 appearances, Neuer is Germany’s record national goalkeeper and, with 39 appearances at European and World Championships, Germany’s record player and goalkeeper. He is considered one of the best goalkeepers of all time, and his playful interpretation of the goalkeeping position is seen as revolutionary. In 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2020, he was named World Goalkeeper of the Year by the IFFHS, as well as World Goalkeeper of the Decade 2011-2020. FIFA named him World Goalkeeper of the Year in 2020.
It is not known what will happen next for Manuel Neuer at FC Bayern Munich. The goalkeeper is still under contract with his long-time club until June 30, 2025.
Wife Anika is “infinitely proud”
The first reactions to Manuel Neuer’s resignation have already been received. While hundreds of fans are mourning in the comments section of the Instagram post, his wife Anika Neuer (24) is celebrating him as a “hero”: “You are the best goalkeeper in the world, you can be infinitely proud of what you have achieved with the national team! I am. We love you infinitely,” she wrote.
Source: Stern
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