Manuel Neuer Calls Time on International Career to Bring Curtains Down on an Illustrious Chapter
German goalkeeper and stalwart in their victory of the 2014 World Cup, Manuel Neuer, is officially retiring from international football. Wednesday’s decision brings curtains down on a glittering career that etches Neuer’s name among the finest goalkeepers the world has ever produced. Neuer makes this declaration when he has featured 124 times for Germany and captained Die Mannschaft 61. The last time he wore a Germany shirt was in the Euro 2024 quarterfinal defeat to Spain. Though by his sensational career, Neuer thought this was the right moment to retire from international football.
Legacy and Honors
The career of Manuel Neuer has been a badge of achievement and innovativeness at goalkeeping. He was called the ‘sweeper-keeper’; Neuer redefined what goalkeeping is to the world. Rushing well ahead of his penalty area to clear attacks, Neuer’s comfortability with the ball at his feet became one of his hallmark styles of play.
The greatest success Neuer achieved was in 2014 when he played a vital role in the German victory during the World Cup in Brazil. He became the goalkeeper of the tournament due to his outstanding performance throughout the competition. Because he had so much to do with winning that World Cup, in addition to his several domestic and international successes, his position was confirmed as that of one of the greatest goalkeepers ever to play football.
Apart from being a World Cup winner, Neuer also had a lot of success at the club level with Bayern Munich, in terms of two UEFA Champions League titles and 11 Bundesliga championships. He declared that after retiring from international service, he would work full-time with the club.
Personal Reflections and Discussions
His decision to retire was well thought out and discussed with his family, together with Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann. He confirmed that though he was very much lured by the prospect of carrying on till the 2026 World Cup, he feels now is the right moment to call it a day in terms of international football.
“It was a great time that shaped me and from which I am very proud,” said Neuer. “And then winning the World Cup in 2014 these are really real highlights for which I’m extremely grateful, like the special atmosphere during this year’s home European Championship.”
Impact on the German National Team
Neuer’s retirement comes just after a spate of international retirements by Germany’s 2014 World Cup winners. Thomas Müller and Toni Kroos, who featured in the 2024 Euro too, had already stopped playing international football alongside Ilkay Gündogan current captain of Germany, who was injured and hence could not play for his country in the 2014 World Cup and finally bade goodbye to the national team.
Between 2010 and 2016, Neuer and Germany would become habitual guests for the final stages of major tournaments, with every main competition ending in the semi-finals. The past two years, however, haven’t gone so well: group-stage exits in both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, and a last-16 defeat by England at Euro 2020. None of this was to count against Germany’s win in their first Euro 2024 knockout game, which turned out to be quite an encouraging sign for resurgence.
Goalkeeper Position in the Future
Neuer retires to open ways for Marc-André ter Stegen. The Barcelona goalkeeper had always been the perpetual vice to Neuer. Ter Stegen is overwhelmingly tipped to succeed Neuer as Germany’s number one goalkeeper with substantial shoes left by Neuer.
Neuer’s legacy will be remembered not for the things he won but for what he did to a position. That is how he played the game, led on and off pitch. However, as the football world bid farewell to one of the greatest goalkeepers, Neuer’s contributions will never be forgotten.
This has thus brought an end to an era in German football with Manuel Neuer’s retirement. Such was a tremendous career that unfolded in front of the world, full of goalkeeping innovation and a host of victories leaving behind such a legacy in its wake. Speaking of Bayern Munich, for the footballing world at large, one goes down memory lane to his distinguished international career and how it left a stamp on the beautiful game.
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