Man Utd’s Evans retires from international football 

Jonny Evans, the experienced Manchester United defender, has officially retired from international football, ending a distinguished career with Northern Ireland.

The 36-year-old, who earned 107 caps, first made his mark on the international stage during Northern Ireland’s thrilling 3-2 victory over Spain in September 2006.

His international journey also included a notable appearance at the Euro 2016 finals.

Evans’ final match for his country came against Spain once again, though this time in a 5-1 defeat in Mallorca in June.

Throughout his career, Evans demonstrated exceptional consistency, starting in 106 of his 107 appearances and captaining the team 15 times. He also contributed six goals during his international tenure.

Evans announced his retirement just a day before Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill was set to reveal his squad for the upcoming Nations League matches against Luxembourg and Bulgaria, marking the end of an era for Northern Irish football.

“From my debut in 2006 when we defeated Spain to my last game in June 2024, it has been a privilege,” said Evans in a statement.

“Putting on the green shirt 107 times and representing the people of Northern Ireland has been my biggest honour. You, the fans, are simply the greatest in the world. I have been so proud to represent each and every one of you on the pitch.”

Evans signed a one-year extension to remain at Manchester United in July and said at the time he would have probably retired completely had there not been an offer from his boyhood club.

Evans rose through the ranks at Old Trafford, winning the Champions League, three Premier League titles and two English League Cups before leaving in 2015 for spells with West Brom and Leicester, before returning to United in 2023 and lifting the FA Cup last season.

O’Neill paid tribute to outgoing Northern Ireland captain Evans by saying: “Managing Jonny has been an absolute privilege. He is one of our greatest players as his 107 international caps clearly shows.”