On the morning of August 20, Gundogan announced on social media his retirement from the German national team.
Gundogan wrote:
Dear German football community, after weeks of reflection, I have decided that it is time to end my international career.
Looking back on the 82 international matches I played for my country, I feel incredibly proud—a number that was unimaginable to me when I made my debut for the national team in 2011. The highlight was undoubtedly the great honor of leading the team as captain in last summer’s European Championship in our homeland! After so many years, we finally made the nation proud again—I am very happy to have been part of this. However, before the games, my body and mind felt a certain degree of fatigue, which made me reflect. The intensity of competition at both club and national levels has not diminished. I will certainly continue to be a fan of this national team, and I sincerely hope that this upward trend continues—then there will be nothing to stop us from becoming one of the closest contenders for the World Cup in 2026. We have an excellent coach, a very strong team, and great team spirit.
Thank you to all the fans, staff, coaches, and teammates who accompanied me on this journey.
It has been an honor!
Thank you, Germany!
Your Ilkay
End of International Career! Gundogan Announces Retirement from German National Team on Social Media. Author：Sports UEFA.Please indicate the source when reproduced：https://www.sportsuefa.com/football-world/32983.html
