Kyle Walker announces his international retirement

Written by:

Nicholas Veevers

After 96 caps and a stellar career with England, the defender is calling time on his time with the Three Lions

ENGLAND PROFILE: KYLE WALKER

England legend Kyle Walker has announced his retirement from international football, after winning 96 caps and representing the Three Lions at five major tournaments.

The Sheffield-born defender is one of our nation’s most-decorated players at both international and club level, having featured for the Three Lions in major competition finals at both UEFA EURO 2021 and 2024, as well as the FIFA World Cup semi-final in 2018.

And the 35 year old has now decided to call time on his career with England, with his final appearance coming in the game against Senegal in Nottingham last summer.

“I am sad to be making this decision, but I’m also very proud of what I've achieved with England,” said Walker, who currently plays for Burnley following a glittering domestic career to date with Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and his boyhood club Sheffield United.

“To represent my country at five major tournaments, to get to the finals that we've reached and to be surrounded by this England team, especially the players and the managers that I've had the privilege of working under, has been a great honour.

“But today is the time that comes to an end. It's good for me to have a little bit of closure to my career on the international stage.

“I would just like to say thank you from the bottom of my heart to the managers that I've worked under, from Fabio Capello, to Roy Hodgson, to Lee Carsley, to Gareth Southgate and to Thomas, for making a dream become reality.

“Thank you to all of my team mates, past and present, and I wish everyone all the best.

“And to the fans, thank you for the support over the years. Keep supporting the lads, they need you guys, they need you behind them to make sure that they can do this country proud.

“We're all going to be behind them and hopefully I can now be a fan watching them go and achieve something big at this World Cup.

“And last but certainly not least, thank you to my family.

“Thank you for putting up with all of the summers being away, and for all the times that I've obviously gone and followed my dream in representing my country.

“The book is now closed and it's been a whirlwind of a journey, but one that I've really, really enjoyed.”

Walker's POTM flashback

A young Kyle Walker speaks after his first start and a player of the match award in 2011

Walker’s England career began as a teenager in 2009, when he made his first international appearance in a defeat to Spain with the MU19s at AFC Bournemouth having just made the first-team breakthrough with Sheffield United.

Just a few months later, he was part of the Young Lions squad who reached the UEFA U19 EURO Final in Donetsk, where they narrowly lost to hosts Ukraine in the final.

He swiftly moved into the Men's Under-21s squad from there and was named in the team of the tournament at the 2011 UEFA U21 EURO Finals.

Walker caught the eye of England manager Fabio Capello and made his senior debut in November 2011 against Spain at Wembley, when he replaced his current Burnley manager Scott Parker as a substitute.

A few days later, he was given a first start in a 1-0 win over Sweden at Wembley Stadium when he was named as player of the match and from there he went on to become a regular in the squad and featured for England at the FIFA World Cup Finals in 2018 and 2022 as well as the UEFA EUROs in 2016, 2021 and 2024.

“To represent your country once, let alone 96 times, I'm extremely proud of that,” he added.

“To then go to the tournaments that I've been to and experience what I have for both myself and my teammates, and also to see the thousands, if not millions, of people enjoying the same experience, it's a great honour.

“To be among the first team to represent England in a major final since 1966, I'm really proud to say that I was a part of that.

“You always look back at the highs and the lows, and certainly Iceland was a low.

“But when we started this journey, especially with Gareth, we wanted to make sure that we were recognised as one of the best nations in the world.

“I think we’re definitely on the path to doing that, and I still say we because I've been a part of that.

“We've tried to change the way that people look at English football, we've tried to change the way that the media looks at football and we've tried to take a little bit of the pressure off that you feel playing for England.

“Of course, I think there should be some pressure playing for your country, but we should all carry that because we're the chosen ones who are lucky enough to pull on that shirt and represent our country.

“Hopefully, my team mates can also say that I've been a part of helping them develop as players and to represent the country and what it means.

“But in football, you experience ups and downs, highs and lows and ultimately, the curtain does draw at the end.”

A full tribute to Walker’s international career will be made at a Three Lions’ fixture after the summer.

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