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Climax Lawrence retires from international football

Climax Lawrence

Climax Lawrence

Dempo SC midfielder Climax Lawrence has announced his retirement from the Indian national team earlier today. Climax took the decision after India coach Savio Medeira informed the seasoned international that he won’t be part of the Indian team for the AFC Challenge Cup 2012.

The 33-year old Climax, who has been the India captain after the retirement of legendary skipper Baichung Bhutia, felt hurt by Savio Medeira’s decision to drop him from the probables list for the upcoming AFC Challenge Cup 2012. Savio informed the midfielder in a phone call on Monday and Climax took a call on his international career.

“I had to retire. Age is not on my side. But this is not the way you treat a senior player. During the SAFF Cup, Savio said I have two years of international football left in me. And now he does a U-turn,” Climax told IANS.

“If he had told me earlier then I would have retired after the SAFF Cup or the friendly against Bayern Munich. It really hurts to be treated badly after serving the country for more than a decade,” the midfielder continued.

“I was thinking about retirement and thought I would hang up my boots after the AFC Challenge Cup. But it was not to be. I am retiring with a heavy heart,” Climax added.

India coach Savio Medeira was quick to react on the news from Goa. “I got to know about it. But what I say is that a player should know his limitations. A coach cannot tell a player when to retire,” Savio told PTI. “I admire him. And I really appreciate his services for the national team and clubs.”

Climax Lawrence made his international debut under former India coach Stephen Constantine in a SAFF Championship 2003 Group A match against Afghanistan on January 12, 2003. Climax has earned a total of 71 senior international caps.