LONDON, (Reuters) – England striker Emile Heskey announced his international retirement on Thursday after his country’s disappointing World Cup campaign.
“I’ve enjoyed every moment of my England career, I’ve worn the shirt with pride every time I’ve been fortunate enough to be selected,” the 32-year-old Aston Villa player said in a statement.
“I wish the management team and the playing squad all the best for the future.”
Heskey made 62 appearances for England, scoring just seven goals.
He drew a blank at the World Cup in South Africa, where he missed a golden opportunity to score in the opening 1-1 draw against the United States after setting up captain Steven Gerrard for the first goal.
Despite frequently misfiring in front of goal, the muscular striker found favour with various England managers including Fabio Capello for his work rate on the pitch and role as a foil for Wayne Rooney.
That proved ineffective at the World Cup, with Heskey starting against the United States and Algeria in the group stage before being dropped from the starting line-up against Slovenia.
