Edin Dzeko has released a statement confirming his retirement from the Bosnian national team after the October match against Sweden.

Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko announced on Thursday that he will end his 19-year international career after the match against Sweden on October 2.

Since making his national team debut in June 2007, the 40-year-old Dzeko has made 151 appearances for Bosnia and Herzegovina, scoring 73 goals and providing 31 assists. He has also led Bosnia and Herzegovina in two World Cups (2014 and 2026), and this year, after reaching the round of 32, they were eliminated by one of the hosts, the United States.

In his farewell statement, Dzeko wrote: "Sometimes I can't help but wonder when this moment will finally come... but I never imagined I would be so emotional as I write these words. On October 2nd, I will play my next and final match for the national team against Sweden."

“Throughout my career, nothing has been as proud as the feeling I have every time I put on the Bosnian jersey. It is my childhood dream, a dream I have always cherished as I have had the honor of representing my country 151 times. I am always proud of it, just as I was the first time I took to the field.”

"Nearly 20 years have passed since my debut against Turkey. Times have changed, and I am no longer the same person I was back then, but my love for Bosnia and Herzegovina has never changed."

“Now, I feel it’s time to step down. I was able to play for the national team until I was 40 because I truly gave it my all. Every single time. Without holding back.”

“Playing for my country is the most moving of all the opportunities football has given me. Qualifying for the World Cup finals for the first time in 2014 remains one of the happiest moments of my career. The night I scored against Wales, and the emotions I felt against Italy in Zenica this March, will forever be etched in my memory. Seeing my compatriots celebrating in the streets of our city is another precious gift football has given me.”

“In the future, I will take the time to thank everyone who has accompanied and supported me on this wonderful journey. But right now, I just hope that you can be there on the night of the match against Sweden so that we can share this feeling again... because every unforgettable moment is a testament to the years we have spent together.”

"This is exactly how I want to spend my last night as a national team player: with you all by my side, wearing the jersey I've loved since I was a child—and for the rest of my life."

All indications suggest that Dzeko will focus entirely on club competitions after retiring from the national team. He has been playing for Schalke since January of this year, making 13 appearances and contributing 8 goals and 4 assists, playing a crucial role in the team's return to the Bundesliga.

Image source: Internet/BBC