Dempo SC defender Samir Subash Naik has announced his retirement from international football after representing India for 10 years.

“After representing the country for the last 10 years, I thought the time has come I should give chance to youngsters to prove their mettle on the international stage,” said Samir in a statement to the ‘Hindustan Times’. “The thought of retirement was playing in my mind for quite sometime, but I always wanted to quit on a high.”

“Now that my club Dempo SC has emerged champion in this edition of the I-League, I thought this is the best occasion to announce my retirement,” Samir added.

Samir earned his debut call-up to the senior Indian national team under Englishman Stephen Constantine in 2002 and he has represented the country in 39 matches. The 32-year-old defender has won the 2002 LG Cup in Vietnam, the 2007 & 2009 Nehru Cup, 2008 AFC Challenge Cup and the 2011 SAFF Cup with Team India.