Czech Republic striker Jan Koller plans to retire from international football after Euro 2008.
All-time top scorer to quit Czechs
Czech Republic striker Jan Koller plans to retire from international football after Euro 2008.
Koller is the all-time record scorer for the Czech Republic with 52 goals in 85 games.
The 35-year-old Nurnberg forward believes the time is right to quit the international scene with Czech coach Karel Bruckner also quitting after this summer's finals in Austria & Switzerland.
"To be honest, I will retire after Euro 2008. I have long been decided about it, for two months now," Koller told Czech daily
Dnes.
"I simply feel it is about time to end there. Also coach Karel Bruckner will leave the team and we have been bound up with each other. His decision (to retire) ended my hesitation.
"He is one of the best coaches I have worked with. I am sorry that I could not co-work with him in a club to be more in contact with him."
Koller is hoping to bow out by winning Euro 2008 as he believes there is a new generation of players coming through for the Czechs.
"It would be great to win it. But if we manage to advance from the group, I will not take Euro 2008 as a disappointment," added Koller
"My generation is being changed, young players are coming in. There is no Pavel Nedved, Karel Poborsky and, due to injury problems, no Vladimir Smicer either."
Koller says he plans to play on for Nurnberg next season before taking a decision on his future in the summer of 2009.
"I want to continue playing, to fulfil the contract at Nurnberg until the end of next season.
"And further? It is hard to say. It will depend on my health, on motivation and on the feeling if I still have the potential to play at such a level."
