Edin Dzeko announces international farewell in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s October Nations League match

Edin Dzeko will end his international career when Bosnia and Herzegovina face Sweden in the Nations League on 2 October, bringing a close to almost two decades with his country.

The 40-year-old striker confirmed on Thursday that the home match against Sweden will be his final appearance for Bosnia and Herzegovina. His team-mates will then continue their campaign against Poland three days later.

Dzeko is Bosnia and Herzegovina’s captain, record scorer and one of the most important players in the national team’s history. He has won 151 caps since making his debut in 2007 and has scored 73 international goals.

His announcement comes only days after several high-profile players also confirmed their retirement from international football, including Argentina captain Lionel Messi, Gabon forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Germany defender Antonio Rudiger.

Dzeko recently represented Bosnia and Herzegovina at the World Cup this summer, guiding the team until their elimination by the United States in the last 32.

He also scored six goals during qualifying and played a decisive role in helping Bosnia and Herzegovina reach the World Cup for the second time in their history.

In a lengthy message posted on social media, Dzeko said he had often imagined the day he would step away from international football, but had not expected the depth of emotion he would feel when making the announcement.

“Sometimes I found myself wondering when this moment would come… but I never imagined the extent of the emotion I would feel while writing these words,” he wrote.

“On 2 October, against Sweden, I will play my next and final match for our national team. Nothing in my sporting career compares with the pride and honour I felt every time I wore this shirt. Nothing at all.”

He added: “It was my childhood dream, a dream I carried with me on every one of the 151 occasions when I had the honour of representing my country on the pitch. I was always proud to perform this duty, just as I was the first time.”

“Twenty years have passed since that match against Turkey. Many things have changed, and I have changed too, but my love for this shirt has never changed. Now I feel that the time has come to step aside. If I continued with the national team until the age of 40, it is because I truly gave everything I had. Every time… I gave everything. Playing for my country was the most precious emotional opportunity football gave me.”

Dzeko described Bosnia and Herzegovina’s qualification for the 2014 World Cup as one of the happiest moments of his life as a footballer.

“Qualifying for the World Cup for the first time in our history in 2014 remains one of the happiest moments of my life as a footballer,” he said. “The emotions I felt on the night of the goal against Wales, and then against Italy in March, will remain alive in my heart forever. Seeing my people celebrating in the streets of our cities was another incredible gift the game gave me.”

He said there would be time later to thank everyone who had supported him throughout his career, but asked supporters to attend his final international match against Sweden.

“For now, I only hope that you will be there on that night against Sweden, so that we can share one final emotional moment together… because every one of these moments is unforgettable, and it was something we lived and wrote together,” he said.

Dzeko concluded: “That is how I want to live my final night representing my country: with all of you by my side, wearing the shirt I have loved since I was a child – the shirt I will continue to love for the rest of my life.”