http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N158532080122-1406.htm Steve Finnan has today announced his retirement from international football. The Liverpool right back made 50 appearances for the Republic of Ireland since making his debut against Greece in April 2000. Said Finnan: "I've thoroughly enjoyed my time in the Republic team, with the World Cup in 2002 being the highlight of my international career. "But I'll be 34 when the next tournament comes around so it's the right time for me to step down. "There will be a new manager coming in soon who will have his own ideas for the future with younger players having the chance to stake their claim to be in his plans."
Finnan Announces International Retirement FINNAN ANNOUNCES INTERNATIONAL RETIREMENT Steve Finnan has today announced his retirement from international football. The Liverpool right back made 50 appearances for the Republic of Ireland since making his debut against Greece in April 2000. Said Finnan: "I've thoroughly enjoyed my time in the Republic team, with the World Cup in 2002 being the highlight of my international career. "But I'll be 34 when the next tournament comes around so it's the right time for me to step down. "There will be a new manager coming in soon who will have his own ideas for the future with younger players having the chance to stake their claim to be in his plans." big loss for ireland, he will be missed but im glad he can now concentrate on liverpool and get back to his consistent best soon
huge loss for ireland himselself and dunne were our defence but at least it his can concentrate on playing for the reds
No Offence but the Irish FA seems a bit of a joke, Great choice and Ireland will never win anything anyway.
Got nothing to do with the FAI as far as I can see. The lad is 32, very late in his career to be playing international football. Its a pity as the international team will be well stretched at the back after this.
He will be missed alright. Don't think he got a fair crack of the whip though. Was it Steve Carr or Ian Harte that were preferred during the world cup 2002. And often when he was given a game, he was put in at left back!
Its a shame, can't blame him though since he was being constantly played out of position and since the FAI are doing their best to make a mess of the international set up. Will still remember his great contributions to the side over the years - setting up McAteer for the famous goal against the Dutch to send us to the World Cup and being the only one along with Robbie Keane to score on pennos against Spain, and of course saving us from defeat at home against Cyprus in October. And obviously for being one of our more consistent defenders in the last few years.
One of the few quality players we had so its going to weaken us further. Should have been the regular right back for years but was overlooked too many times. Hopefully it will keep him in top form the reds though.
What has Ireland never going to win anything got to do with it? Maybe all English,Welsh, Scots and Northern Ireland players should retire for the same reason
He would have got a lot more caps if for some inexplicable reason Kerr hadn't picked Carr ahead of him so much.
I think it has something to do with them gimps in the FAI. If a new man has been in charge at the start of the year, then maybe he could have talked to Steve. He was probably asked about his availability for the brazil and he decided to retire. He never got the reconation he deserved with Ireland as he was so versatile. I remember him scoring against Finland when playing in Midfield.
Very disapomited that Finnan has quit. All his talk of being 34 at the time of the SA world cup is cheap. he is 31 and a real asset for the irish team. i feel he has let the irish supporter down.
It is a shame to lose one of the team's best players; he really is the unsung hero for both Ireland and Liverpool