MUNICH, Germany (AP) — Germany forward Thomas Müller announced his retirement from international soccer on Monday after a 14-year career that included the 2014 World Cup title.
The 34-year-old Bayern Munich striker played 131 times for his country, scoring 45 goals.
“It always made me very proud to play for my country. We celebrated together and sometimes shed a tear together,” he said in a video posted on YouTube. “I would like to say thank you to all the fans and my Germany teammates for their support over the years. Take the enthusiasm and joy of this year’s Euros with you.”
Müller's final appearance for Germany was as a substitute in the host nation's quarterfinal loss to eventual Euro 2024 winner Spain.
Müller's international debut came in 2010 in a 1-0 loss to Argentina. He played in four World Cups and four European Championships.
Fellow veteran Tony Kroos retired from all soccer after Euro 2024, leaving Germany without two of its most experienced players going forward.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
FILE - Germany's Thomas Mueller, right, celebrates during the Group A match between Germany and Scotland at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Munich, Germany, Friday, June 14, 2024. Germany forward Thomas Müller has announced his retirement from international soccer after a 14-year career that included the 2014 World Cup title. (Christian Charisius/dpa via AP, File)
Germany's Thomas Mueller, left, challenges Spain's Aymeric Laporte during a quarter final match between Germany and Spain at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Stuttgart, Germany, Friday, July 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Germany's Thomas Mueller, left, and Spain's Rodri vie for the ball during a quarter final match between Germany and Spain at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Stuttgart, Germany, Friday, July 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
FRISCO, Texas (AP) — The Dallas Stars locked up two key defensemen with new contracts just before the start of training camp, giving Esa Lindell a $26.25 million, five-year extension and signing Thomas Harley to an $8 million, two-year deal.
The agreement with Lindell announced Tuesday came with the 30-year-old set to go into the final season of a $34.8 million, six-year contract. The deal averaging $5.25 million a season will take effect with the 2025-26 season and run through 2029-30.
Harley led Dallas blueliners in goals with 15 in his first full season as the Stars reached the Western Conference Final for a second consecutive year. The 23-year-old had 32 assists for 47 points and led NHL defensemen with three overtime goals.
Dallas opens training camp Thursday.
Lindell's 26 points (five goals, 21 assists) last season were his most since 32 in 2018-19. He also had a club-high 162 blocked shots while averaging 20:28 of ice time per game.
“Esa is a stalwart presence on our blueline and has become a player that can be trusted in all situations,” Stars general manager Jim Nill said. “He is a proven penalty killer who logs some of the toughest minutes and defensive assignments.”
Lindell has skated in all 164 regular-season games the past two seasons. He has 191 points (49 goals and 142 assists) in 604 NHL games, all with the Stars, since his debut in four games at the end of 2015-16.
Lindell, Harley and Miro Heiskanen form the core of the Dallas defense. The 25-year-old Heiskanen is going into the fourth season of the $67.6 million, eight-year contract he signed in 2021.
Last season, Harley became the fourth-youngest defenseman in franchise history to score an overtime goal and was the sixth blueliner in NHL history to have OT goals in consecutive games.
“Thomas is one of the league’s top young defensemen,” Nill said. “His performance last season was a testament to the way that he has worked on and off the ice to become a better player.”
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL
FILE - Dallas Stars defenseman Esa Lindell skates with the puck against the Vegas Golden Knights during the third period in Game 7 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series, May 5, 2024, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade, File)
