Hugo Lloris retires at 36

HUGO LLORIS RETIRES FROM INTERNATIONAL WORK AT 36

At the age of 36, and after more than 14 years as captain of the French national team, Hugo Lloris announced this Monday that he will end his international career. The keeper has been a member of the French national team since 2010 and has a record 145 caps for the French national team.

A MONUMENT TO THE BLUE

It is thus an executive of the history of Les Bleus who hangs up his boots. Indeed, it is the end of a story of more than 14 years with the French selection. It began on November 19, 2008, during a friendly match against Uruguay at the Stade de France. But it is really over time that the goalkeeper has become a pillar of the Blues, which he captained from 2010.

Showing solidity and self-sacrifice, he even took over the record of selections held by Lilian Thuram (145 against 142) during the last edition of the World Cup in Qatar. He was in the 2018 World Cup-winning squad and played a key role in the victory in Russia. The French goalkeeper will have played his last game for the national team on December 18. It was during the World Cup final lost against Argentina (3-3, 2-4 t.a.b).

AN INEVITABLE HANDOVER

The moment of the handover has arrived for the native of Nice. At 36 years old and after many games in the French national team but also in the Premier League at Tottenham, the time has come to leave room for youth.

“There comes a time when you have to know how to hand over. I don’t want to take over, I’ve always said over and over that the French team doesn’t belong to anyone. We all have to make sure that this is the case, me first. I think that the team is ready to continue, there is also a keeper who is ready (Mike Maignan). I prefer to go out at the top than to wait for a slump, or the competition of too much, continues Lloris. There is also a family choice, I feel the need to spend more time with my wife and children.”

As far as his record is concerned, the goalkeeper is not to be pitied. Indeed, he has a Euro final played in 2016 and unfortunately lost to Portugal, a victory in the Nations League in 2021 and a record of captaincies in national selection (121). He will be able to focus on his club career with Tottenham. Hugo Lloris has been the captain since 2012, when the Frenchman joined the London club.