Manuel Neuer's Retirement and Germany's Search for a New Number 1

Manuel Neuer's Retirement from the German National Football Team

Manuel Neuer, the goalkeeper of FC Bayern Munich, has announced his retirement from the German national football team after 15 years. He had played 124 international matches, was the captain, and won the World Cup in 2014. Neuer's career began in 2009 with the U21 national team, where he won the European Championship title alongside Sami Khedira and Mats Hummels, before becoming the starting goalkeeper for the senior national team. The retirement clears the way for long-time back-up Marc Andre ter Stegen to take over as Germany's number one. Neuer follows fellow 2014 World Cup winners Thomas Mueller and Toni Kroos, and current Germany captain Ilkay Gundogan, into international retirement. Manuel Neuer's retirement has been met with praise and admiration from the sports world. Bayern Munich, his club, refers to him as the 'Best of all Time', and teammates and coaches have lauded his achievements and influence on the game. Neuer revolutionized goalkeeping and became a role model and constant in the German national team, leading them to victory in the 2014 World Cup. He expressed gratitude for the highlights of his career and thanked his coaches, teammates, and loyal fans.