Real Madrid first team defender, Antonio Rudiger, has officially announced his retirement from international football following last summer's FIFA World Cup
In the summer, Real Madrid central defender, Antonio Rudiger was part of the Germany squad at the FIFA World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
The 33-year old featured in all four games, twice off the bench and then twice in the starting XI, as they were surprisingly knocked out by South American side Paraguay in the round of 32.
After the tournament, the German media had initially reported that Rudiger informed his team mates that he was planning to retire from the national team, but that the appointment of former Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, had him reconsidering his decision.
However, that has proven not to be the case, as the defender has officially announced his retirement from international football on his Instagram account, saying: "After some time spent reflecting, the moment has come for me to end my career with the national team and clear the way for the young generation.
When I first wore the DFB jersey in 2014, I never could have imagined in my wildest dreams that it would ultimately lead to 86 international matches.
Even though the big title eluded us at the last tournaments and we had to endure some painful defeats, this time was an incredibly special chapter for me—one that will shape me forever.
A huge thank you goes to:
My teammates: For every shared duel and the camaraderie in the locker room and at the team hotel—and above all, for the friendships that will endure far beyond football.
The entire coaching and support staff: Thank you for the years of trust and the work behind the scenes. A special thanks goes to Jogi Löw, Hansi Flick, and Julian Nagelsmann, who accompanied and shaped me on my journey with the DFB. But also to my mentor in the youth national teams, Horst Hrubesch.
And of course, to you fans: Thank you for your support—especially for the unforgettable atmosphere at our home EURO 2024.
For me, a new chapter now begins, in which I will fully focus on my club.
Thank you for the shared journey.
Your Toni.”
Fair play to him. He had a decent international career in the end, even if the era was not particularly successful for Germany as a collective, playing at three World Cups and two European Championships.
This should come as good news for Real Madrid and Jose Mourinho, when looking at this from a selfish point of view. Now he is approaching his mid 30's, and having missed a number of games through injury last season, the fact he can rest and recover during international breaks is huge. It certainly helped prolong Toni Kroos' career, that's for sure.
Having been on the bench for the opening two games of the season, Rudiger played 90 minutes in the win over Malaga, which coincidentally or otherwise yielded the team's first clean sheet of the campaign. He still has plenty to offer, you would have thought.
