Frank Lampard has announced that he has decided to
retire from international football after making 106 appearances for England.
The 36-year-old former Chelsea man, who recently joined
Manchester City on loan from New York City FC, scored 29 goals during a
distinguished 15-year international career.
He played at the last
three World Cups and was named England player of the year in 2004 and 2005.
However, he has now
decided to follow his long-time midfield partner Steven Gerrard into
international retirement, two weeks before qualifying begins for Euro 2016.
Lampard released a
statement which read: “I have taken the decision to retire from international
football.
“It has been a very
tough decision for me to make, which is why I have given it so much thought
since the World Cup.
“I have always been
exceptionally proud and honoured to represent my country and have to say,
looking back, I have enjoyed every minute of wearing the England shirt."
Lampard left Chelsea at
the end of last season after a trophy-laden 13-year spell with the London club.
And he added: “Due to my
club career now going in a different direction, it is of the utmost importance
for me to consider my family first and also to concentrate on how I can perform
consistently to the best of my abilities over my next few years in club
football.
“It is now the time to move forward and I feel very confident
that, with Roy Hodgson in charge, the young players that we have coming
through, and the changes that are being made throughout the development of the
youth system in this country, we will have success in the future and a team
that this country deserves.
“I would like to thank
all the managers that I have worked under, all the players that I have been
fortunate enough to play alongside, and all the England fans for their support,
not only at home but particularly on their travels with the team around the world.
“I now look forward to
continuing to support the team as a fan and wish them every success for the
upcoming campaign towards France 2016.”
Lampard made his debut
for England in a friendly victory over Belgium in October 1999 and scored three
goals in four matches as they reached the quarter-finals of Euro 2004.
He played every minute
at the 2006 World Cup but was one of three players to miss a penalty in the
quarter-final shoot-out loss to Portugal.
England exited the 2010
tournament at the second-round stage after a 4-1 loss to Germany, during which
Lampard famously had a shot which replays showed crossed the goal-line when it
bounced down off the crossbar, only for the officials to fail to award a goal.
He was named
vice-captain of the squad for this summer's World Cup in Brazil and made his
one appearance when he led the side for the 0-0 draw with Costa Rica which
concluded their campaign, as they crashed out at the group stages.
Lampard retires as
England's ninth highest scorer of all-time and the fifth most-capped outfield
player.
Roy Hodgson's side will
now have to move on without Gerrard and Lampard, and the manager will name his
next squad and a new captain on Thursday, ahead of a Wembley friendly
against Norway (3 September) and the first Euro 2016 qualifier in Switzerland
(8 September).
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