Lyon defender Dejan Lovren announces retirement from Croatia national team duty..

2023-02-24 14:41

Lyon defender Dejan Lovren announces retirement from Croatia national team duty..




Lyon center back Dejan Lovren announced on his official Instagram personal social account on Thursday that he will end his Croatia national team international duty.


Soon after, the Croatian Football Association also confirmed the matter and issued a statement on its official website to thank Lovren for his contribution to the Vatreni in the past 13 years, and praised him as one of the most successful and greatest player in Croatian football history.


Lovren wrote in his official post: "Dear teammates, dear Croatian fans, today I want to convey some depressing news to you, but please believe me, the decision I am about to announce is one I have thought deeply about. The decision was made with an open mind."


"Announcing this decision was not easy for me and I tried not to cry while writing this letter, but I hope by now you understand that I am someone who will always tell the truth from the bottom of my heart, but I'm also a someone who doesn’t know how to hide his emotions.”


"The time has come for me to say my final farewell to the Croatia national team, but I will always be a staunch supporter of the team and will follow every minute and every moment of the team in every game going forward."


“As a child, I always dreamed of playing in a big game for my country and wearing that red and white jersey. I wore the Croatian checkered jersey for the first time when I was 9 years old and I will never forget that special feeling, it was just like putting on a Superman cape. It makes me feel powerful, confident and fearless, just like my favorite superhero. Words can’t quite express that feeling.”


"I will always remember October 8, 2009 as the day I played for Croatia for the first time. I played for the youth teams at all levels of the country, but I always wanted to get to the peak of that mountain and play for the senior team. For me, playing for Vatreni allows me to show what I'm capable of in front of the world."


“Honestly, at first I expected more from myself. There were a few matches where I was disappointed with my performances and I thought I could have given more, but it took me a while to get things going. Most difficultly, actually, long before the time for my retirement came, I had even thought about leaving the Vatreni squad. I was young and I was not very patient. I hope you don't be disappointed because of this revelation. Ultimately, I listened to my inner voice and continued on to play strongly, and you, the fans, were a big part of me sticking to this decision."


"I want to tell every young footballer in the country that they have to see the Croatia national team as another dimension in football and these players as your superheroes."


"The most beautiful chapter of my national team story is the one we've written over the past five years. To be honest, it's still like a complete dream for me. I've been through so many emotions, especially in the In 2018 and 2022, I find it hard to put these experiences into words.”


"I've worked hard to live the life I've lived, wishing I could experience moments like these, and when they do come, I welcomed them with immense pride and the memories will stay in my heart with me forever."


"I would like to thank all the managers I have worked with, starting with my first manager, Slaven Bilić, of course also including Igor Štimać, Niko Kovac, Ante Čačić and Zlatko Dalić. Each of you has left your mark on me and I will always be grateful for everything you have taught me."


“I would also like to thank all my teammates, former and current, for being with me on this wonderful and unforgettable journey. We have had our ups and downs, we have cried together, we have celebrated together. These are all precious memories which I will always cherish in my heart. I spent over a decade playing with some of you, I see you as brothers, and you stood by me in my toughest times, supporting me. Thank you all."


"Thank you to the team behind the scenes who have been with us since day one. I can't name them all here but we all know who they are. You are the heart of this team, although your face may not be on the cover as everyone deserves like that, but trust me, we're nothing without your help."


"Finally, one more thing I want to say is that although my career as a player has ended, at least I have gained a new fan in you who supports and loves me. Let's stick to each other as we have so far, Because the unity between us has always been the one quality that sets us apart, it is our greatest strength. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Love, Dejan."



About Lovren's illustrious career


The 33-year-old Lovren was born on July 5, 1989 in a small village called Kraljeva Sutjeska in Zenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina. He is 1.88 meters tall and plays as a central-back. His younger brother Davor is a former Croatian U20s international forward.


Lovren, who had a rough childhood, was forced to flee with his family to relatives to Munich, Germany when the Bosnian War broke out when he was 3 years old. During that time, Lovren fell in love with football and started his professional career at the age of 6 in the youth academy of a small local club, Sendling.


In 1999, due to the tightening of Germany's policy on the refugee of the Bosnian War, the Lovren family was forced to immigrate to Karlovac, Croatia again. Lovren, who was 10 years old at the time, initially could not adapt to the local life and culture, and had to move across many different youth academies of local small clubs due to language barrier at that time. Only after he was discovered by Dinamo Zagreb's youth academy, that Lovren officially had a place to settle down and start his career properly.


Lovren completed his first-team debut with Dinamo Zagreb in May 2006, and quickly became the team's key defender, during which he won 1 Croatian First League and 1 Croatian Cup title with the club.


In January 2010, Lovren joined Lyon for €9.5 million. With his good performances, he was once selected by a Spanish football magazine as one of the best young defenders in European football at that time, and he also won a Coupe de la Ligue with the club.


After moving to Southampton for £8.5 million in the summer of 2013, Lovren once again delivered excellent performances, leading the club to qualify for the Europa League against the odds.


In the summer of 2014, Lovren joined Liverpool with teammates Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert for £20 million, and his reputation has grown since then.


During his 6 years with the Reds, Lovren, who has worked and established a strong understanding with Martin Škrtel, Joe Gomez, Joël Matip, Emre Can, Ragnar Klavan, Mamadou Sakho and Virgil Van Dijk, won 1 Premier League and 1 UEFA Champions League title with the club, establishing his status as the club's best legendary defender in the history.


In July 2020, Lovren joined Zenit Saint Petersburg for €12 million, and he immediately helped the club win 2 Russian Premier League and Russian Super Cup titles.


After his contract expired with Zenit Saint Petersburg, Lovren moved back to Lyon on a free transfer in early January this year.


Returning to Les Gones after 10p years, he has since made 7 appearances for the club in Ligue 1, winning 5 of them. 


Internationally, Lovren, who has played for the Croatia senior national team since November 2009, has won the runner-up (2018) and third place (2022) with the team in the past two FIFA World Cups.


In the first half of this season, although Lovren was plagued by injuries, he still played 16 times for Zenit Saint Petersburg in all competitions, scoring 1 goal and assisting 1 time.