Neuer named Germany captain

BERLIN: Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was on Thursday named as the new captain of world champions Germany following Bastian Schweinsteiger’s international retirement.

“For me it is a great honour,” said Neuer after the German Football Association (DFB) announced his appointment on their website.

“It makes me proud to be captain of the team, but we all know that we need several players to lead on the pitch, if we are to succeed.

“The key things are already always discussed within ‘die Mannschaft’ and decided together.

“Of course, the captaincy has great symbolic significance. “I am very pleased with the trust the coach has shown in me in this appointment.”

Having made his international debut in 2009, in a 7-2 win against the United Arab Emirates in Dubai, Neuer has kept 25 clean-sheets in 71 of his Germany appearances.

He was between the posts when they won the 2014 World Cup title and was voted the best goalkeeper in the world in 2013, 2014 and 2015.

The 30-year-old will wear the captain’s armband for Germany’s opening 2018 World Cup qualifier away to Norway in Oslo on Sunday.