Portland Thorns goalkeeper and German Women's National Team captain Nadine Angerer has announced that she will retire at the end of this year.

"My decision is final, which is why I decided to announce it before the World Cup, so everyone knows what is going on," Angerer told the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA).

The 36-year-old has earned 138 caps with Germany, represented her country as its captain since 2011 and won five UEFA Women's European Championships and two World Cups.

Angerer joined the Thorns ahead of the 2014 season and started 22 games for Portland last year, posting a 71 percent save percentage. She has started three games for Portland this season.

The 36-year-old will represent No.1 world-ranked Germany in her final World Cup this summer.

Angerer pulled Thorns coach Paul Riley aside last week to tell him that she would be announcing her retirement.

Riley said that Angerer has done a lot to help grow women's soccer during her long career and has made a name for herself on the international stage with her success on the field.

"I'm glad for her," Riley said. "It's a great way to finish. She wants to win a World Cup and then come here and win a championship. It's not a bad end to her career."

-- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com

503-853-3761 | @jamiebgoldberg