Manuel Neuer, the former goalkeeper of the German national football team, has penned an emotional letter to his fans, reflecting on his severe injury and a pivotal career decision.
Manuel Neuer, after announcing his retirement from the German national football team, reached out to his fans with an emotional message. “Normally, I don’t do things like this. I’m a very private person,” Neuer wrote on “The Players’ Tribune.” However, after deciding to end his era in the DFB jersey, he felt compelled to write more than just an Instagram post: “I want to explain to you what Germany means to me. What football means to me.”
The 38-year-old World Cup winner from 2014 went into detail about the past few months, reflecting on his return to the pitch after his leg fracture and the subsequent home European Championship. His words were filled with emotion.
Reflecting on the injury and its impact
Neuer recounted the moment he was injured during a skiing holiday, initially thinking, “It’s nothing serious. The helicopter will pick me up, the doctors will do their job, and I’ll be back on the field.” However, upon arriving at the hospital, it quickly became clear that it was not a typical fracture. “My future as a footballer was at stake,” Neuer admitted. The hardest part was “the uncertainty,” he continued. “One moment you’re skiing, and the next, you’re staring at a hospital wall, thinking about how this passion, which has been a part of your identity your whole life, could be taken away from you.”
He added, “I was scared. I think anyone would have been scared.”
A miraculous recovery and a difficult decision
Neuer expressed that he would “never forget the relief” he felt when he was told that he would be okay. He invited the doctor and his family for coffee at Christmas to express his gratitude.
His nomination for the Euro 2024 squad, after only a few games post-injury, was unforgettable for him. “When I was selected for the tournament squad, it was one of the proudest achievements of my life,” wrote the Bayern Munich goalkeeper. “A small miracle.”
During his holiday after the tournament, Neuer felt a mix of positive emotions. “I could feel that the emotional part of me wanted to continue,” he wrote. However, if he had continued, it would have been for the 2026 World Cup. He would have been 40 during the tournament in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. “At the moment, I feel very good in my body, but no one can see the future,” Neuer added. Conversations with friends and family helped him realize that “this is the right time.”
Now, Neuer can focus on his role at Bayern Munich. “At 38, I still have this childlike passion for football. If I see a ball lying 20 meters away on the grass, I have to run over and do something with it. Goal kicks, headers… something,” he wrote. He concluded his letter by saying, “Only on the day when that’s no longer the case will I stop completely.” Neuer closed his message with: “Thank you all for everything. Your goalkeeper – Manu.”
