Climax Lawrence retires from international football

33 year old midfielder Climax Lawrence has retired from the Indian national football team. Climax took this decision earlier today after hearing that national coach Savio Medeira has dropped him from the 30 player probables list for the upcoming 2012 AFC Challenge Cup in Nepal.

Speaking to the agency IANS Climax said, "I had to retire. Age is not on my side. But this is not the way you treat a senior player. During the SAFF Cup, Savio said I have two years of international football left in me. And now he does a U-turn."

"If he had told me earlier then I would have retired after the SAFF Cup or the friendly against Bayern Munich. It really hurts to be treated badly after serving the country for more than a decade," added a clearly hurt Climax, who indirectly criticized national coach Savio Medeira.

Climax had started his international career in 2002 under then national coach Stephen Constantine. Over the years he has been a key midfielder for India and in recent times Climax has captained on a number of occasion - 2011 AFC Asian Cup (as back-up to Baichung Bhutia), 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, 2011 SAFF Cup.

Talking about his retirement Climax said, "I was thinking about retirement and thought I would hang up my boots after the AFC Challenge Cup. But it was not to be. I am retiring with a heavy heart."

Over his career Climax has been a very loyal player. He started his professional career with Salgaocar SC in 1998, then played for East Bengal Club in the 2004/05 season and since 2005 has been playing for Dempo SC.