Philippines’ goal keeper Neil Etheridge within the Fifa World Cup/Asian Cup qualifiers at Rizal Memorial Stadium. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines–Neil Etheridge, one in all the long-time fixtures of the Philippine men’s football team, announced his retirement from national team duties on Monday.
The veteran goalkeeper took to social media to announce the tip of his international profession that began in 2008 as an 18-year-old on the AFC Challenge Cup Qualifiers in Iloilo City.
“Thanks to everyone I even have come across and I wish nothing but success for the subsequent generation of Filipino footballers internationally,” Etheridge said in a lengthy post. “All I wanted from the start was to make a difference and I hope that I used to be capable of achieve that with my service to the country and national team.”
READ: Neil Etheridge leads Azkals for next World Cup qualifying games
Etheridge would later change into a significant part in Philippine football’s resurgence when the team then generally known as the Azkals stunned Vietnam within the group stage of the 2010 AFF Suzuki Cup (now Asean Hyundai Cup) in what’s dubbed as “The Miracle in Hanoi.”
With Etheridge in between the sticks, the Azkals reached the semifinals of the distinguished Southeast Asian competition, triggering a streak of three consecutive appearances.
He also helped the Philippines qualify to the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, a historic first for the country, together with his role in the course of the qualifying stages.
Etheridge made 82 appearances for the Philippines, however the keeper for Thai club Buriram United has not played since 2024.
READ: Neil Etheridge ’emotional’ after Azkals rediscover old fight
“Time away and things that I needed to experience along the best way with teammates that nobody aside from my teammates would understand,” he said, adding. “I don’t regret any of my decisions.”
His retirement from the national team got here just a few days after helping Buriram win the Asean Club Championship.
The Philippine profession also opened the door for Etheridge to change into the Filipino to play within the English Premier League when Cardiff City was promoted to play in the course of the 2018/19 season.
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