Another Football legend retires from International Football
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| German Striker-Miroslav Klose |
German striker Miroslav Klose, the all-time World Cup top
scorer, announced his retirement from international football on Monday.
The 36-year-old leaves the German
national team as a World Cup winner after last month helping Joachim Loew's
side to their first global crown since 1990 when they defeated Argentina
1-0 in the Rio-hosted final.
The Lazio
frontman picked up his 16th goal, in what was his fourth World Cup, to surpass Brazilian
Ronaldo as the tournament's leading scorer.
Klose, who won two German titles
with Bayern Munich following spells with Kaiserslautern and Werder Bremen, said
he had "fulfilled a childhood dream with the title in Brazil" and lived
"unforgettable moments with the national team", according to a
statement released by the German football federation.
"The success of the team stood
and always stands for me in the highest place," Klose said.
"With the national team I
achieved our greatest goal, a goal which we had together within the squad.
"In addition, I achieved
personal goals and those who know me know that I am very ambitious, but I am a
striker and the task of a striker is to score goals.
"Therefore the records never concerned
me, but it was always about giving my best for the team."
The Polish-born marksman scored five
goals at the 2002 World Cup, where Germany
were beaten 2-0 by Ronaldo's Brazil in the final, five in 2006 on home soil,
four in 2010 at South Africa and two in 2014.
He broke the World Cup record for
goals in July when he found the target for his 16th strike during the 7-1
semi-final rout of Brazil.
He is one of just three players,
alongside Pele and Uwe Seeler, to score in four World Cups, and finishes his
Germany career as the country's all-time leading scorer with 71 goals in 137
appearances.
A photo taken on July 15, 2014 shows
Germany's national footbal team striker Miroslav Klose chee …
Loew was quick to heap praise on
Klose, saying: "For Miro it was always an honour to be called up into the
national team. He's given everything for Germany.
"I have the biggest respect for
his decision and for his incredible career in the national team, which will be
a tough one to better."
Federation president Wolfgang
Niersbach said Klose was "not only an exceptional player but also an
absolutely exemplary man".
"With his 71 goals for the
national team and his 16 goals in the World Cup, he has established two
phenomenal records that will ensure him a place of honour in the history
books."
Germany's goalscoring hero from the
World Cup final Mario Goetze also paid homage to Klose.
"Thank's Miro. The figures
speaks for you, but it is as a person that you are more remarkable," he
tweeted.
Longserving German team manager
Oliver Bierhoff said the German national dressingroom would feel odd the next
time they play a match.
"It is strange to imagine that
Miro will no longer be part of the Mannschaft (national side). He was the
archetypal professional."
Klose kicked off his international
career against Albania on March 24, 2001, going on to enjoy a 13-year career
with the Mannschaft, only Lothar Matthaus having won more caps (150).
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