- Title: England's Wayne Rooney announces international retirement
- Date: 23rd August 2017
- Summary: BAKU, AZERBAIJAN (OCTOBER 12, 2004) (REUTERS) WAYNE ROONEY AT ENGLAND TRAINING SESSION THEN ENGLAND MANAGER SVEN-GORAN ERIKSSON ROONEY RUSTENBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (JUNE 2010) (REUTERS) ENGLAND MANAGER FABIO CAPELLO WITH PLAYERS WAYNE ROONEY WALKING UP TO GROUP ENGLAND TRAINING
- Embargoed: 6th September 2017 14:32
- Keywords: Soccer Rooney England Retirement International
- Location: VARIOUS
- City: VARIOUS
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA0016VDOQBJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Former England captain Wayne Rooney announced his retirement from international football on Wednesday (August 23), ending a 14-year career in which he became the country's top goalscorer with 53 goals.
Rooney earned his first cap against Australia in 2003 at the age of 17 years and 111 days to become the youngest player, at the time, to represent the national side. The 31-year-old also leaves as England's most-capped outfield player with 119 appearances.
"Having already thought long and hard, I told (England manager) Gareth (Southgate) that I had now decided to retire for good from international football," Rooney said in a statement on his website (www.officialwaynerooney.com).
"It is a really tough decision and one I have discussed with my family, my manager at Everton and those closest to me."
The announcement comes ahead of England's World Cup qualifiers against Malta and Slovakia next month. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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