Three Lions' warrior calls it a day: Walker announces national team retirement
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Reading Time: 3min | Tue. 10.03.26. | 20:13
The former Manchester City right-back ends his stint with England as their 10th all-time appearance-maker
Exactly nine months after playing his last game for England, Kyle Walker decided to announce his retirement from the national team after wearing the Three Lions' jersey for 15 years.
He represented England's U-19 and U-21 teams before making his senior debut on November 12, 2011, clocking five minutes in a friendly against Spain. Three days later, he made his first start against Sweden, while his only national team goal came in March 2013 in an 8-0 win over San Marino in a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying game.
Walker made 96 appearances for the Three Lions, which puts him in 10th place in their all-time list. He last wore the national team jersey on June 10, 2025, in a 3-1 defeat to Senegal in another friendly clash. It was the final national team action for which he received a call-up from Thomas Tuchel.
Given that he is 35 and plays for Premier League relegation strugglers Burnley, the defender probably realized he had no future with England under the German.
He worked with five different Three Lions managers (Fabio Capello, Roy Hodgson, Sam Allardyce, Gareth Southgate, and Thomas Tuchel) and two caretakers (Stuart Pearce and Lee Carsley), participated in five major tournaments (the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups and the 2016, 2021, and 2024 European Championships), and reached two EURO finals.
“I am sad to be making this decision, but I’m also very proud of what I've achieved with England."
“To represent my country at five major tournaments, to get to the finals that we've reached and to be surrounded by this England team, especially the players and the managers that I've had the privilege of working under, has been a great honour."
“But today is the time that comes to an end. It's good for me to have a little bit of closure to my career on the international stage."
“I would just like to say thank you from the bottom of my heart to the managers that I've worked under, from Fabio Capello, to Roy Hodgson, to Lee Carsley, to Gareth Southgate and to Thomas, for making a dream become reality."
“Thank you to all of my team mates, past and present, and I wish everyone all the best. And to the fans, thank you for the support over the years. Keep supporting the lads, they need you guys, they need you behind them to make sure that they can do this country proud."
“We're all going to be behind them and hopefully I can now be a fan watching them go and achieve something big at this World Cup."
“And last but certainly not least, thank you to my family. Thank you for putting up with all of the summers being away, and for all the times that I've obviously gone and followed my dream in representing my country."
“The book is now closed and it's been a whirlwind of a journey, but one that I've really, really enjoyed," Walker said in his farewell message via the Three Lions' official website.