Finnan retires from International Football

[Armando]

Yeah, he did. And Tigana sold him to Liverpool more than 4 years ago. One for the conspiracy theorists I reckon

Tigana was sacked a few months before Finnan was sold.

[tetsujin1979]

Tigana was sacked a few months before Finnan was sold.

Yeah, you're right. Tigana was sacked in April of 2003 - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Tigana - Finnan moved to Liverpool that summer - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Finnan

[Ireland4ever]

James Lawton - Irish Independent

WHEN Steve Finnan turned his back on Ireland this week he pleaded old age.
No matter that he was younger than Zinedine Zidane when he was talked back into the French team that brushed against an astonishing moment of football history. Finnan was plainly untouched by a hint of remorse.
What, after all, has even a hint of regret, still less shame got to do with the career calculations of a 21st century footballer?
Even though Finnan's achievements, which include a Champions League medal, mean that he would have no reason to shrink into a corner if Zidane walked into the room, he is not a player you would naturally bracket with the fabled Zizou.
However, Finnan's decision to quit international football in his 32nd year does make one point of comparison.
Finnan's explanation of his thinking this week was unequivocal enough to discourage any hope that a new manager of the Irish team will be able to talk him back into a green shirt, but then Zidane seemed equally determined to restrict himself to club football.
He was plainly moving past his zenith with Real Madrid. International football was placed in the margins of his professional life.
But of course he changed his mind and the result was that he came within a stride or two [FONT=Tahoma]–[/FONT] and one shocking headbutt [FONT=Tahoma]–[/FONT] of providing the game with what arguably would have been one of its greatest stories in the World Cup final in Berlin in 2006.
Playing in a young, unformed Irish team would not offer much possibility of such potential reward but there is maybe a scrap of reflection to be found in the experience of the Frenchman. Finnan declared: "The time is right for a new manager to start bringing young players through now. I mean, I'll be 34 by the time the World Cup finals come around."
Ambition
Zidane was 34 when he had the world of football in his hands. It was negligent discipline rather than any failure of imagination [FONT=Tahoma]–[/FONT] or ultimate football ambition that stretched beyond a paycheque [FONT=Tahoma]–[/FONT] that let it slip.
But Finnan is saying, as so many do these days, that in terms of the international game Zidane was operating in his professional dotage.
What induces most sadness is not that career strategy is plainly the reason for Finnan's rejection of the possibility of playing in his second World Cup finals, which used to represent the apex of a pro's ambition, and is one which was denied such talents as George Best and John Giles, but the dwindling of any sense that in today's football anything is more readily understood than a pro's desire to eke out his years of megaearning power.
Today's footballer does not walk bravely into the dark night. He gets out the calculator. Finnan confirms this in the most reasonable way, and no doubt his decision will be applauded within the game as eminent good sense. Alan Shearer set the pattern long before his days with Newcastle were in doubt. He was going to concentrate on his club career, which meant of course that he was not going to push himself beyond the interests of number one.
The pragmatists didn't see an issue. Why not? Why was a footballer any different to any man who wants to stretch out his earning power?
Possibly because at the level of an internationally recognised footballer, financial survival some time ago became less a challenge than a matter of opulent degree.
Finnan of course was happy enough to appear in the shop window of international football when his club career was in a formative stage, but now that he is a key man at Anfield, a favoured son of Rafa Benitez, why would he stretch his resources on behalf of an Irish team which has in recent memory never been in such need of experienced, accomplished players?
Not, surely, because he was briefly inconvenienced by the selection policies of former Irish coach Brian Kerr?
It appears that he was soured to some degree by the criticism faced by Kerr's successor, Steve Staunton. He announced: "I think it's only fair to let the younger guys have a go." Even if this is the equivalent of sending in the lambs [FONT=Tahoma]–[/FONT] or some distinctly mediocre mutton [FONT=Tahoma]–[/FONT] against the qualifying challenge presented by world champions Italy.
It may be a bloodless abdication but it is no less damaging for that. Finnan is saying, however great is the Irish need, it is no longer a personal priority. It is his right, of course.
Responsibilities
Football has no legislation for the repayment of debts, of acknowledging that there may just be wider responsibilies that are not written down on some sweetheart contract which will be honoured only so long as it suits either of the parties.
For Steve Finnan the football world need not any longer stretch beyond Anfield. He has made his bed [FONT=Tahoma]–[/FONT] and isn't it a luxurious four-poster? But then no one can say he hasn't been honest.
Unlike the Stephen Ireland case, no grandmothers have been fictitiously slayed, just the romantic old idea that in football there will always be a little more to play for than the next juicy contract.

[rambler14]

He'll be back. They always come back.

[RogerMilla]

He'll be back. They always come back.

you're right rambler , the new manager will coax him back.

[NeilMcD]

http://www.tribune.ie/article.tvt?_s...BCATNAME=Sport

[OwlsFan]

you're right rambler , the new manager will coax him back.

If it's Houllier, he might.

Other than Keane (who came back for political reasons), how many Irish players have retired and then come back?

[NeilMcD]

There is not many but a few french players did.

[eirebhoy]

Other than Keane (who came back for political reasons), how many Irish players have retired and then come back?

Carsley and Carr.

[Rocky77]

Carsely didn't retire, technically. He withdrew his availability until he sorted his Everton problems out but also said he would be available again down the line.

And oh, how we laughed...

[NeilMcD]

It was more to do with personal circumstances really

[tricky_colour]

Good riddance to em, with commitment like that is it any wonder we did not qualify? No wonder the low paid players of Cyprus beat us. I seem to recall Stephen Ireland heading a ball straight to a Cyprus player during the match, although I could be wrong on that and apoligise if I am. I am also sure I have seen him
pass the ball straight to an opposition player during a Man City match, and it did not look acidental to me on either occasion, again apologies if I am wrong.

Let's face if players think more about their club or whatever, than their country then good riddance to them, don't let the door hit your arse on the way out is all I can say. Same goes for managers who think they can write off a major competition as a rebuilding exercise.

You would get better results with a Eircom league players (that's a compliment not an insult by the way), stuff the Prima Donna's, you should pick the team based upon desire to win rather than perceived ability. I don't want any players playing for Ireland who are giving less than 100%, and I have a good idea who they are and are not.

[osarusan]

I seem to recall Stephen Ireland heading a ball straight to a Cyprus player during the match.......I am also sure I have seen him
pass the ball straight to an opposition player during a Man City match, and it did not look acidental to me on either occasion

What are you trying to say?

[elroy]

Good article by lawton and very true. Very disappointed in Finnan, really couldve done with him for another two years at least. Very much doubt he'll be back.

[drummerboy]

Watching Finnan perform lately he is a shadow of his former self. Perhaps just a blip. But he now seems to be out of the team more times than not.

[elroy]

Watching Finnan perform lately he is a shadow of his former self. Perhaps just a blip. But he now seems to be out of the team more times than not.

Think you can put that down to an injury hit season more than anything. Hes still better than Arbeloa imo, Arbeloa really got shown up in the united game by evra in particular.

[gwhite]

Have a look at this
http://breakingnews.iol.ie/sport/ies...70343&t=soccer
Finnan says being played out of position all the time was a factor in his decision. Thanks Stan.

[Morbo]

I'm no defender of Stan but that is BS, Stans no longer the manager so how would he know the new manager would continue to play him out of position? besides its a players job to play where the manager tells him to play without whining about it. I don't buy this as the reason its just a convenient excuse, money was clearly the no.1 reason.

[Stuttgart88]

Have a look at this
http://breakingnews.iol.ie/sport/ies...70343&t=soccer
Finnan says being played out of position all the time was a factor in his decision. Thanks Stan.

Finnan played LB for Liverpool on Saturday. Club retirement beckons!

[seanfhear]

finnan announced his retirement from international football when houlier was hot favourite[maybe due to houlier sometimes playing four centre backs at liverpool]
heres hoping he has a change of heart