Post by Mike Giggs' Munchies on Jul 15, 2010 9:02:36 GMT -5
Aston Villa striker Emile Heskey has announced his international retirement.
The 32-year-old won 62 caps for England, scoring seven times, and was a part of Fabio Capello's squad at the World Cup.
Heskey started the matches against the United States and Algeria in South Africa but was dropped for the final group game against Slovenia, which England won 1-0 thanks to a goal from his replacement Jermain Defoe.
While his contribution to the Three Lions cause was often questioned by supporters, he remained a popular choice for several England managers.
Heskey said: "I have enjoyed every moment of my England career and worn the shirt with pride every time I have been fortunate enough to have been selected.
"I would like to thank every manager I have played under, everyone at The FA and the fans for all their support over the years.
"I wish the management team and the playing squad all the best for the future."
Heskey was handed his international debut by Kevin Keegan when he came on for Kevin Phillips in the friendly against Hungary in Budapest on April 28, 1999.
He played in the European Championships of 2000 and 2004 and was an ever-present at the 2002 World Cup, scoring against Denmark in the first knockout round.
After a three-year break Steve McClaren brought him back into the England fold and he won his 50th cap against Belarus in Minsk in October 2008.
In addition to Villa, Heskey has also played club football for Leicester, Liverpool, Birmingham and Wigan.
Emile Heskey Factfile
1978: Born in Leicester, January 11.
1995: March - Makes professional debut against QPR, aged 17.
April - Scores first senior goal in 1-0 victory over Norwich.
1996: Makes England Under-21 debut against Poland, the first of 16 caps at Under-21 level.
1997: April 6 - Scores equaliser in 1-1 League Cup Final draw against Middlesbrough at Wembley.
1997: April 16 - Wins League Cup after 1-0 victory in replay against Middlesbrough at Hillsborough.
1998: Wins first England senior call-up, but does not play against Czech Republic.
1999: Makes England debut against Hungary in Budapest.
2000: February - Wins second League Cup with 2-1 victory over Tranmere Rovers at Wembley.
March 10 - Becomes Liverpool's record signing after completing £11m move.
March 11 - Makes Liverpool debut against Sunderland.
April 1 - Scores first goal for Liverpool in 3-0 win over Coventry City.
2001: May 12 - Wins FA Cup with Liverpool, starting ahead of Robbie Fowler in 2-1 victory over Arsenal at Millennium Stadium.
May 16 - Starts in 5-4 UEFA Cup Final victory against Alaves.
August 24 - Scores in 3-2 UEFA Super Cup win over Bayern Munich.
2002: June - Scores third goal as England progress to World Cup Quarter-Finals with 3-0 win over Denmark.
October 14 - UEFA launch investigation after Heskey and England teammate Ashley Cole suffer racist abuse in Slovakia.
October 25 - Donates £500,000 to aid consortium led by Gary Lineker to buy out his former club, who were struggling financially.
2003: Takes over England captaincy after Michael Owen is substituted in hometown of Leicester.
2004: May - Joins Birmingham on five-year deal for an initial £3m fee.
August 14 - Makes Birmingham debut in 1-1 draw against Portsmouth.
August 28 - Scores first goal for Birmingham in 1-0 victory of Manchester City.
2006: May - Relegated to Coca-Cola Championship with Birmingham after 1-0 defeat to Bolton on last day of the season.
July - Signs for Wigan Athletic for fee of £5.5m
August 19 - Makes debut for Wigan in 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United.
August 26 - Makes 500th league appearance and scores first goal for Wigan in 1-0 win over Reading.
2007: Heskey has home raided by armed robbers who steal a number of items including family's BMW.
2008: October - Wins 50th England cap in World Cup qualifier against Belarus.
November - Scores 100th league goal in 2-1 win against Portsmouth.
2009: January 23 - Signs for Aston Villa in £3.5m deal.
January 27 - Scores on Aston Villa debut in 1-0 win over Portsmouth.
2009: March - Scores first England goal in more than six years in 4-0 win over Slovakia at Wembley.
June 6 - Scores against Kazakhstan as England triumph 4-0.
2010: June 1 - Scores just three Barclays Premier League goals for Villa in the 2009/10 season but is still named in England squad for World Cup in South Africa.
June 12 - Starts 1-1 draw with United States.
June 18 - Starts 0-0 draw with Algeria.
June 23 - Dropped for 1-0 win over Slovenia. Brought on in 86th minute.
June 27 - Comes on as substitute in the 71st minute as England beaten 4-1 by Germany in last 16.
July 15 - Announces retirement from international football, earning 62 caps, scoring seven goals.
The 32-year-old won 62 caps for England, scoring seven times, and was a part of Fabio Capello's squad at the World Cup.
Heskey started the matches against the United States and Algeria in South Africa but was dropped for the final group game against Slovenia, which England won 1-0 thanks to a goal from his replacement Jermain Defoe.
While his contribution to the Three Lions cause was often questioned by supporters, he remained a popular choice for several England managers.
Heskey said: "I have enjoyed every moment of my England career and worn the shirt with pride every time I have been fortunate enough to have been selected.
"I would like to thank every manager I have played under, everyone at The FA and the fans for all their support over the years.
"I wish the management team and the playing squad all the best for the future."
Heskey was handed his international debut by Kevin Keegan when he came on for Kevin Phillips in the friendly against Hungary in Budapest on April 28, 1999.
He played in the European Championships of 2000 and 2004 and was an ever-present at the 2002 World Cup, scoring against Denmark in the first knockout round.
After a three-year break Steve McClaren brought him back into the England fold and he won his 50th cap against Belarus in Minsk in October 2008.
In addition to Villa, Heskey has also played club football for Leicester, Liverpool, Birmingham and Wigan.
Emile Heskey Factfile
1978: Born in Leicester, January 11.
1995: March - Makes professional debut against QPR, aged 17.
April - Scores first senior goal in 1-0 victory over Norwich.
1996: Makes England Under-21 debut against Poland, the first of 16 caps at Under-21 level.
1997: April 6 - Scores equaliser in 1-1 League Cup Final draw against Middlesbrough at Wembley.
1997: April 16 - Wins League Cup after 1-0 victory in replay against Middlesbrough at Hillsborough.
1998: Wins first England senior call-up, but does not play against Czech Republic.
1999: Makes England debut against Hungary in Budapest.
2000: February - Wins second League Cup with 2-1 victory over Tranmere Rovers at Wembley.
March 10 - Becomes Liverpool's record signing after completing £11m move.
March 11 - Makes Liverpool debut against Sunderland.
April 1 - Scores first goal for Liverpool in 3-0 win over Coventry City.
2001: May 12 - Wins FA Cup with Liverpool, starting ahead of Robbie Fowler in 2-1 victory over Arsenal at Millennium Stadium.
May 16 - Starts in 5-4 UEFA Cup Final victory against Alaves.
August 24 - Scores in 3-2 UEFA Super Cup win over Bayern Munich.
2002: June - Scores third goal as England progress to World Cup Quarter-Finals with 3-0 win over Denmark.
October 14 - UEFA launch investigation after Heskey and England teammate Ashley Cole suffer racist abuse in Slovakia.
October 25 - Donates £500,000 to aid consortium led by Gary Lineker to buy out his former club, who were struggling financially.
2003: Takes over England captaincy after Michael Owen is substituted in hometown of Leicester.
2004: May - Joins Birmingham on five-year deal for an initial £3m fee.
August 14 - Makes Birmingham debut in 1-1 draw against Portsmouth.
August 28 - Scores first goal for Birmingham in 1-0 victory of Manchester City.
2006: May - Relegated to Coca-Cola Championship with Birmingham after 1-0 defeat to Bolton on last day of the season.
July - Signs for Wigan Athletic for fee of £5.5m
August 19 - Makes debut for Wigan in 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United.
August 26 - Makes 500th league appearance and scores first goal for Wigan in 1-0 win over Reading.
2007: Heskey has home raided by armed robbers who steal a number of items including family's BMW.
2008: October - Wins 50th England cap in World Cup qualifier against Belarus.
November - Scores 100th league goal in 2-1 win against Portsmouth.
2009: January 23 - Signs for Aston Villa in £3.5m deal.
January 27 - Scores on Aston Villa debut in 1-0 win over Portsmouth.
2009: March - Scores first England goal in more than six years in 4-0 win over Slovakia at Wembley.
June 6 - Scores against Kazakhstan as England triumph 4-0.
2010: June 1 - Scores just three Barclays Premier League goals for Villa in the 2009/10 season but is still named in England squad for World Cup in South Africa.
June 12 - Starts 1-1 draw with United States.
June 18 - Starts 0-0 draw with Algeria.
June 23 - Dropped for 1-0 win over Slovenia. Brought on in 86th minute.
June 27 - Comes on as substitute in the 71st minute as England beaten 4-1 by Germany in last 16.
July 15 - Announces retirement from international football, earning 62 caps, scoring seven goals.
ers.
