Yaya Toure Announces International Retirement
Four-time African footballer of the year Yaya Toure of the Ivory Coast announced his retirement from international football on Tuesday.
(FILES) This file photo taken on February 10, 2015 shows Ivory Coast’s midfielder Yaya Toure (C) raising the trophy at the end of the 2015 African Cup of Nations final football match between Ivory Coast and Ghana in Bata on February 8, 2015.
Four-time African footballer of the year Yaya Toure of the Ivory Coast announced his retirement from international football on September 20, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / KHALED DESOUKI
The 33-year-old Manchester City midfielder — capped 113 times — said it had been an incredibly difficult decision.
“Writing this note was probably ‘the most difficult match of my life’,” wrote Toure.
“After 14 years at the highest level, I’m sure this is the right time for me! The fact that I am 33 now, the intensity of training and the multitude of games are not the reasons why I am making this decision.”
