Lovren Retires From International Football At 33
After 14 years with the Croatia national team, Dejan Lovren has announced his retirement from international football at the age of 33.
Lovren has been a mainstay of the Croatia backline since making his debut in 2009, going on to win 78 caps while scoring five goals.
Lovren, who rejoined Olympique Lyon in January after ten years away, helped Croatia to win silver and bronze at the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups respectively.
His last appearance for his country came in the 3-0 defeat to Argentina in the semi-finals of the Qatar World Cup.
In a lengthy open letter, the former Southampton and Zenit Saint Petersburg defender wrote: "I want to tell every single young football player in the country that they must look at the Croatian national team as a completely other dimension of football – look at these players as your superheroes.
"The most beautiful chapters of my national team story were the ones that we wrote during the past five years. This is, if I’m being honest, still a complete dream to me.
"So many emotions went through me, especially in 2018 and 2022, and I find it difficult to put these experiences into words.
"I lived my life in hope that I would get to experience moments like those and, when they did come, I lived them with immense pride. These memories will remain in my heart forever."
In six seasons with Liverpool, Lovren won the Premier League and the Champions League in 2019.
