August 19, (THEWILL) – Germany captain, Ilkay Gundogan, has announced his retirement from international football following Euro 2024. The 33-year-old midfielder made the decision after leading his country to the quarter-finals of the tournament, where they were eliminated by eventual champions, Spain, in extra time.
Gundogan, who will turn 34 in October, represented Germany 82 times since his debut in 2011. He described captaining the national team at the home European Championship last summer as the highlight of his international career.
The Barcelona player missed Germany’s 2014 World Cup victory due to a back injury and was also absent from Euro 2016 because of a dislocated kneecap. Despite these setbacks, Gundogan established himself as a key figure in the German national team over the past decade.
In a statement released by the German Football Association, Gundogan expressed pride in his international career and gratitude for the opportunity to represent his country. He reflected on the journey from his debut to becoming captain, a progression he had not initially envisioned.
Gundogan’s retirement marks the end of an era for German football, with the national team now set to begin a new chapter without their experienced captain. His decision comes at a time when Germany is looking to rebuild following their early exit from the 2022 World Cup and their quarter-final finish at home for Euro 2024.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
