Matildas great Clare Polkinghorne has announced she will retire from international duties at the end of this year.
The veteran defender, who is Australia’s most-capped female player with 167 appearances, announced the decision on Thursday morning that she will step away after the side’s final game on December 7 against Chinese Taipei.
Polkinghorne played for her country at 15 major tournaments during a career that spanned almost two decades in the green and gold.
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“After a lot of thought and deep reflection, I’ve decided to step away from international football after our final match of the year,” she said.
“From FIFA Women’s World Cups to Olympic Games and Asian Cups, to have worn the Australian badge for over 18 years has been the greatest honour of my life.
“A privilege that I will always treasure and more than I could have dreamed as a six-year-old playing on the football fields of Brisbane.
“This journey and this football life is not possible without a strong support network, and I have been blessed to have that through my parents, brothers, extended family, close friends and Matildas teammates. I cannot express my gratitude enough for all they have done throughout my career to allow me to enjoy this adventure of a lifetime.
“As a new cycle commences, now seems the perfect time to move forward and I feel confident that the next generation of players will continue to take women’s football, and women’s sport, to even greater heights.”
Away from her Matildas success, the 35-year-old also spent her entire domestic career in Australia for the Brisbane Roar, picking up the Julie Dolan Medal on two occasions.
Football Australia chief executive James Johnson paid tribute to Polkinghorne as a pioneer of the women’s game and admits the side will miss her moving forward.
“Clare has been synonymous with the CommBank Matildas and as she brings her international career to an end, it is only right that she is celebrated for a truly distinguished Australian career,” he said.
“A player and person of great humility, Clare is the epitome of a quiet achiever.
“While she has never courted the spotlight, her passion for the green and gold has been evident every time she scores for her nation, and her steadfast dedication to the team has made her shine all that brighter.
“Her legacy will be in fighting to leave the jersey in a much better place than when she first donned it, and her impact is unmistakable in the incredible progress the CommBank Matildas have sparked on and off the pitch.
“This will be her enduring imprint on the game.”