Former Manchester United defender announces retirement from international football

Stretty News

·14 August 2024

Former Manchester United defender announces retirement from international football

Former Manchester United and Bayern Munich defender Daley Blind announced his retirement from international football on Wednesday after a stunning stint in a Netherlands shirt.

Blind represented the Netherlands on 108 separate occasions, but he has now decided to step away from the international stage to help make way for a “talented new generation.”

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After making his international debut in 2013 during a friendly against Italy, Blind made his final appearance for the Dutch side as a substitute against Romania at Euro 2024.

“A talented new generation is coming up and after a good chat with the national manager, it is time to fully focus on my club and my family,” Blind said in a statement via X.

“It was an honour to wear the Oranje shirt 108 times, for me that is the greatest thing a player can achieve: representing your country,” he added.

Het was een eer om het Oranje-shirt 108 keer aan te mogen trekken, voor mij is dat het hoogst haalbare als speler: je land vertegenwoordigen. Elf jaar lang heb ik er alles aan gedaan om dat prachtige Oranje-shirt aan te mogen blijven trekken. Het heeft mij zoveel gebracht, zoveel… https://t.co/O5tFh9JBYl
– Wednesday, 14 August 2024

In 2014, Blind joined United from Ajax during the reign of Dutch coach Louis van Gaal.

He won the FA Cup and Europa League before returning to Ajax in 2018 where he remained successful.

Blind left Ajax again in January 2023 to sign for Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich before eventually joining Girona in the Spanish La Liga where he continues his professional career.

He finished his statement with the following three sentences: “For 11 years I have done everything I could to keep wearing that beautiful Oranje shirt. It has given me so much, so many beautiful moments. I cherish them.”

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