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Wayne Rooney announces retirement from international soccer

By Nic Hendrickson

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 12: Wayne Rooney of Everton arrives before the Premier League match between Everton and Stoke City at Goodison Park on August 12, 2017 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Tony McArdle/Everton FC via Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 12: Wayne Rooney of Everton arrives before the Premier League match between Everton and Stoke City at Goodison Park on August 12, 2017 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Tony McArdle/Everton FC via Getty Images) /
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Wayne Rooney has announced his retirement from international soccer, effective immediately.

Wayne Rooney has announced his retirement from the English national team, effective immediately. Rooney has 119 caps for England over his international career, scoring 53 goals during that time.

Of those 119 caps, 74 of them have come in competitive matches and 45 in international friendlies. Of his 53 goals, 37 of those came in competitive matches and the other 16 came in international friendlies.

Rooney also had 268 shots in competitive matches during his career, giving him a 13.8 percent conversion rate. He had 112 shots in international friendlies, giving him a conversion rate of 14.3 percent in those.

Rooney also contributed with 20 assists over his international career, with 16 of them coming in competitive matches. This means that Rooney was involved in a goal every 109 minutes in competitive matches and every 157.4 minutes in international friendlies.

Wayne Rooney made an official statement on his international retirement via his official website:

"“It was Gareth Southgate called me this week to tell me he wanted me back in the England squad for the upcoming matches. I really appreciated that.However, having already thought long and hard, I told Gareth that I had now decided to retire for good from international football.It is a really tough decision and one I have discussed with my family, my manager at Everton and those closest to me.Playing for England has always been special to me. Every time I was selected as a player or captain was a real privilege and I thank everyone who helped. But I believe now is the time to bow out.”"

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Rooney recently scored his 200th Premier League goal, putting him 60 goals back of Alan Shearer for most ever goals in the league. He has also scored more international goals for England than anyone else, with four more than Sir Bobby Charlton. He retires with the 14th best strike rate of all time for England.

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