Domagoj Vida Announces Retirement From Croatia National Team
Veteran Croatia defender Domagoj Vida has announced his retirement from international football at the age of 35.
Vida earned the first of his 105 international caps back in 2010 and went on to represent Croatia at seven major tournaments.
The AEK Athens defender did not play a single minute of Croatia's disappointing group stage exit at EURO 2024 in Germany and has decided to say goodbye to the national team.
In an official statement, Vida said: “When I made my debut for the Croatia national team on May 23, 2010, in front of my family, friends and fellow Slavonians, I thought I had realized my football dream.
"A little more than 14 years later, I know that it was only the beginning of the most beautiful story in my football life. And no matter how hard it is to write or say these words because it’s hard to separate yourself from something that means so much to you, it’s easier when I know how much richer I am because of everything I’ve experienced.
"It is also an honor to wear the most beautiful jersey in the world once in your career and represent your homeland.
"And when you do it 105 times, play in seven major competitions and win three major medals with Croatia, then you can only be infinitely grateful for such a privilege.
Vida counts Besiktas, Dynamo Kyiv and Bayer Leverkusen among his former clubs.
