Following the earlier news of the retirement of one Tottenham Hotspur legend this afternoon (read about that here), a present-day Spurs man has announced his retirement from international football this evening.
Indeed, Spurs captain Hugo Lloris, who has monopolised the space in between France’s sticks for nearly FIFTEEN years and captained them for a record 121 times, has this evening announced his decision to hang up the gloves on an international level, and will no longer turn out for Les Bleus from immediate effect.
Lloris made his debut for Les Bleus way before he signed for Spurs in a friendly against Uruguay in 2008, and has since gone on to lift a World Cup in 2018 and captain his side to Euro final in 2016 and, most recently, in the frantic six-goal World Cup Final in Qatar against Argentina back in mid-December.
Speaking to L’Equipe (via the BBC), Lloris explained the rationale behind his retirement:
“I have really been thinking about it since the end of the World Cup, but there has been something deep inside of me for maybe six months now and which grew during the competition, leading me to make this decision,“ said Lloris.
“There comes a time when you need to step aside. I have always said the French national team does not belong to any one person,” added the Frenchman.
“There is a goalkeeper who is ready [Mike Maignan of Spurs’ upcoming opponents Champions League opponents AC Milan], and I need a bit more time for me, for my family and for my children.
“To have been the France goalkeeper for 14-and-a-half seasons is a big deal, but it is also mentally exhausting and I hope clearing some time for myself will allow me to keep playing at the highest level for a few more years.”
At 36, and with 18 months left on his Spurs contract, it remains to be seen how long Lloris wants to give it before he retires from domestic as well as international football. Indeed, Spurs have been reportedly eyeing a long-term successor for the Frenchman. Read more on that here, and have your say on Spurs’ goalkeeping situation in the Vital Spurs fan forum here.