DOHA: South Korean veteran Lee Young-ryo has confirmed his retirement from international football after his side went out of the Asian Cup in the semi-finals.
Bidding to reach their first final since 1988, South Korea fell 3-0 on penalties to arch-rivals Japan in Doha on Tuesday, after a pulsating game finished 2-2 following extra-time.
“I have decided to retire from the national team,” said the 33-year-old left-back, who has enjoyed a long career with PSV Eindhoven, Tottenham Hotspur, Borussia Dortmund and Al Hilal.
Despite his age he played every minute of South Korea’s campaign in Qatar, including consecutive extra-time contests.
But after 126 appearances, he said the time had come to step aside.
“I had planned to discuss my retirement with the coach after the Asian Cup, but I made up my mind today that I was going to retire,” Young-ryo was quoted as saying by the Asian Cup website.
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