120 caps, 24 goals – Manchester United’s Bastian Schweinsteiger retires from Germany duty
2 July 2016 - UEFA EURO 2016 - Quarter Final - Germany v Italy - Bastian Schweinsteiger of Germany - Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.
Germany captain and Manchester United midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger has announced his retirement from international football.
The 31-year-old, who only joined the Premier League giants from Bundesliga champions FC Bayern Munich back in July 2015 following his reported £6.5m switch, was part of Joachim Low’s side that won the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
Photo: Simon Stacpoole / Offside.
Schweinsteiger, who recently married Serbian tennis ace Ana Ivanovic earlier this summer, retires from international duty after becoming his country’s fourth most-capped player of all-time after winning his 120th cap against hosts France in the semi-finals of EURO 2016 earlier this month.
Only Lothar Matthaus (150), Miroslav Klose (137) and Lukas Podolski (129) have featured for Germany more than the central midfielder.
The Kolbermoor-born star made his international debut back in June 2004 against Hungary in a 2-0 defeat and went onto hold the German record for most European Championship appearances (15).
Schweinsteiger, who has been linked with a move away from Old Trafford before the close of the summer transfer window following manager Jose Mourinho’s arrival (according to BBC Sport), scored just one goal and provided two assists in 31 appearances in all competitions for United last season.