Munich, 22 August 2024 (dpa/MIA) — World Cup winning goalkeeper Manuel Neuer announced on Wednesday that he is ending his national team career, the fourth Germany player to step down after the Euro 2024 home tournament.

"Eventually, the day had to come. As of today, my career in the German national football team ends. Everyone who knows me knows that it wasn't an easy decision for me," Neuer said in a video on Instagram.

Bayern Munich's Neuer, 38, won 124 caps since a 2009 debut and played at eight big tournament starting with the 2010 World Cup, winning the global event in 2014. His last matches were at Euro 2024.

He is the fourth player to end his national team career after the Euros. Forward Thomas Müller and midfielder and captain Ilkay Gündogan have also quit the team, and midfielder Toni Kroos has fully retired from football.

"We had many ups and downs at the national team. Everyone knows the highlight. The victory at Maracana Stadium against Argentina where we became world champions," Neuer said.

Neuer, who redefined the goalkeeper position during his career, will continue playing in Munich where his current contract is until 2025.

Coach and officials salute Neuer

"Even though I can understand Manu's decision and his motives, his departure is a great loss - both on a sporting and personal level," Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann said in a statement issued by the national federation DFB.

"Manu has shaped the game of goalkeeping like no other in the history of football. With his saves, his saves, his playmaking and his charisma, he was more than just a stalwart for the national team for almost a decade and a half."

Germany sporting director Rudi Völler struck a similar note, saying: "In the goalkeeping country of Germany, Manu stands out among many exceptional keepers, he has revolutionised the goalkeeping game with his style."

DFB president Bernd Neuendorf said it is "difficult to put into words what he has done for German football and the DFB," adding that the DFB is losing "an outstanding goalkeeper, an opinionated person and a great personality."

World Cup glory and injury comebacks

Having already overcome a foot injury just in time for the 2018 World Cup, Neuer also returned from a leg fracture sustained in December 2022 and made it to the recent Euros, with the quarter-final defeat against eventual champions Spain now his final match.

"Looking back, it fills me with pride and gratitude to have been on the pitch with my team-mates and to have been captain of the national team for more than seven years until my injury," he said.

"What followed was an encore for me, and being able to be on the pitch at a home Euros was the icing on the cake."

Ter Stegen expected to take over

Neuer had initially left his national team future open. But he is now the last member of the 2014 squad to step down, following Müller and Kroos.

"I loved wearing the national team shirt," he said.

Nagelsmann said after the Euros that he will rejuvenate the squad lookinng ahead at the next big event, the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

The first choice role in goal is now expected to go the Neuer's long-time back-up, 32-year-old Marc-Andre ter Stegen of Barcelona.

Germany's next matches are Nations League games against Hungary and the Netherlands in early September, for which Nagelsmann will name the squad next week.