Germany captain, Bastian Schweinsteiger, has announced his retirement from international football aged 31.
The Manchester United midfielder quit the Die Mannschaft after making 120 appearances scoring 24 times in over 15 years.
There are also reports that he may be the biggest casualty of Jose Mourinho’s appointment as United manager.
In a statement released on his official Twitter account on Friday, the former Bayern Munich star confirmed that he has asked German national team coach, Joachim Löw, to henceforth excuse him from his team in future competitions.
“I want to thank the fans, the club, the DFB, the coaches and the German national team. In 120 international matches I have played for my country I have experienced moments that were indescribably beautiful and successful,” the statement, written in German, read.
“Historically and emotionally I have achieved something that can no longer be repeated in my career. Therefore, it is right and proper now to call it quits and to wish the team the best for qualification and the 2018 World Cup. ”
Schweinsteiger took over his country’s armband after Phillip Lahm’s retirement following the 2014 World Cup triumph in Brazil.
But a frustrating season at United, in which the midfielder missed 17 Premier League games through injury, meant he found himself on the bench for much of Germany’s Euro 2016 campaign.
He was no longer the commanding figure he used to be in the team’s dressing room with his influence and appearances diminishing over the past two seasons.
Bayern goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer has been heavily tipped to succeed the player who recently got married to tennis star, Ana Ivanovic.
He retires as fourth most-capped player of all time on 120 – behind Lothar Matthaus (150), Miroslav Klose (137) and Lukas Podolski (129).
Apart from the winning the World Cup two years ago, the 31-year-old also finished third twice (2006 and 2010) and runner-up at the Euros in 2008.
