Another veteran player has announced his retirement from his international career, days after a host of major stars did the same.
The past few days have witnessed a wave of international retirements, most notably Argentine Lionel Messi, Gabonese Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and German Antonio Rudiger.
Now Bosnian Edin Dzeko has joined them. The striker confirmed on Thursday that the UEFA Nations League match against Sweden on October 2 will be his last with Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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At the age of 40, the striker concludes nearly two decades with his country, a journey that began in 2007.
Captain and one of the iconic figures in Bosnian football history, Dzeko departed as the all-time top scorer with 73 goals in 151 international matches.
He led the line at the World Cup this summer, captaining the team until the United States knocked them out in the round of 32.
Six goals in the qualifiers were decisive, propelling Bosnia and Herzegovina to only their second World Cup appearance.
His farewell comes at home against Sweden, then his teammates travel to face Poland three days later.
In a lengthy message on social media, Dzeko admitted that he had always imagined this moment without realizing how difficult it would be to live it.
“Sometimes I found myself wondering when this moment would come,” he wrote, “but I never imagined the depth of emotion I would feel as I wrote these words.”
He continued: “On the second of next October, against Sweden, I will play my next and last match with our national team.” “Nothing in my sporting career compares to the feeling of pride and honor I felt every time I wore this shirt. Nothing at all.”
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Dzeko continued: “It was a childhood dream, a dream that I carried with me on all the 151 occasions in which I had the honor of representing my country on the field. I was always proud to carry out this duty, just as it was the first time.”
He added: “Twenty years have passed since that match against Türkiye.” “Many things have changed, and I have changed too, but my love for this shirt has never changed. Now I feel that it is time to step down. If I continue until the age of 40 with the national team, it will be because I gave everything I had. Every time, I gave everything. Playing for my country was the most valuable emotional opportunity that football gave me.”
The Bosnian star added: “Qualifying for the World Cup for the first time in our history in 2014 remains one of the happiest moments of my life as a football player. The feelings that I experienced on the night of the goal against Wales, and then against Italy in March, will remain alive in my heart forever. Seeing my people celebrating in the streets of our cities was another wonderful gift that the game gave me.”
He continued: “There will be a time to thank everyone who stood by me and supported me throughout this wonderful journey.” “For now, I just hope you can be there that night against Sweden, so we can share one last emotional moment together… because every one of these moments is unforgettable, and we lived and wrote them together.”
“And this is how I want to live my last night representing my country: with all of you by my side, wearing the shirt that I have loved since I was a child, and the shirt that I will love for the rest of my life,” Dzeko concluded.
