Rio Ferdinand: Manchester United defender retires from England

LONDON: Rio Ferdinand announced Wednesday that he was calling time on his England career to concentrate on his club duties at Manchester United.

The 34-year-old centre-half won 81 caps in an international career that took him to three World Cups.

"After a great deal of thought, I have decided the time is right for me to retire from international football," he said in a statement.

"At the age of 34, I feel it is right for me to stand aside and let the younger players come through, which allows me to concentrate on my club career.

"The team looks in great shape and there is an influx of young, talented players coming through the ranks which bodes well for the 
"After a great deal of thought, I have decided the time
 is right for me to retire from international football," said 
Rio Ferdinand. (AP Photo)

future."

The south Londoner has not played for England since featuring against Switzerland in June 2011.

He became England's youngest-ever defender when he made his debut shortly after his 19th birthday in a friendly against Cameroon at Wembley in November 1997.

England manager Roy Hodgson said: "It is important to pay tribute to someone of Rio's stature and the achievements he had in a senior international career with England over 14 years at the highest level.

"To have captained his country, to play at three World Cups and indeed score in one of those, marks him out amongst a very special group of players."

Rio Ferdinand's England career

• 1997: Makes England debut v Cameroon at Wembley
• 1998: Named in squad for 1998 World Cup finals but does not play
• 2000: Left out of Euro 2000 squad
• 2002: Scores first England goal in 3-0 win over Denmark at 2002 World Cup
• 2004: Banned for eight months after missing a drugs test
• 2006: Plays five games at World Cup in Germany
• 2008: Captains England for first time in defeat by France in March - loses out to John Terry in battle for permanent skipper role
• 2010: Terry is stripped of captaincy and Ferdinand is given the armband but injury rules him out of the 2010 World Cup
• 2011: Makes his 81st appearance in a Euro 2012 qualifier against Switzerland
• 2012: Left out of England's squad for that summer's European Championships
• March 2013: Recalled for World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and Montenegro before later withdrawing
• May 2013: Announces retirement from international football