Announcing his retirement from international football, Germany’s captain Ilkay Gundogan cited physical and mental fatigue as the reason behind his decision. After leading his country at Euro 2024, Gundogan shared his thoughts on social media, stating, “After a few weeks of reflection, I have come to the conclusion that it is time to end my national team career.”
Gundogan expressed pride in having played 82 matches for his country, acknowledging that this achievement exceeded his expectations when he debuted for the senior national team in 2011. His retirement follows those of Toni Kroos and Thomas Mueller, who also decided to step away from international football recently.
At the age of 34, Gundogan captained the German team that reached the Euro 2024 quarter-finals, eventually being eliminated by Spain after extra time. Reflecting on the journey, Gundogan commented on Germany’s resurgence following disappointments in previous tournaments.
Despite feeling physically and mentally fatigued before Euro 2024, Gundogan, who had a successful stint at Manchester City before moving to Barcelona, looks forward to supporting the national team as a fan. He expressed optimism about Germany’s prospects in the 2026 World Cup.
Having debuted in 2011, Gundogan missed participating in the 2014 World Cup and Euro 2016 due to injuries. As the first German footballer of Turkish descent to captain the national team, he leaves behind a legacy of leadership on and off the field.
Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann praised Gundogan’s leadership and expressed respect for his decision to retire. While leaving the door open for a potential return, Nagelsmann extended his best wishes to Gundogan for his future endeavors.
Source: AFP