Snodgrass announces retirement

Hammer Robert Snodgrass’ withdrawal from Scotland duty on the morning of the meeting with San Marino had more behind it than previously thought.

This morning the 32-year-old called time on his international career via an emotional Instagram post in which he stated that he was stepping aside to ”let the boys and younger players take my place and hopefully push the squad forward”.

Snodgrass won a total of 28 caps for his country plagued by serious injury and differences of opinion with  various national managers. The West Ham midfielder won the last of his 28 caps in the 4-0 Euro qualifying defeat in Russia last week.

Snodgrass, who has seven goals for his country, made his Scotland debut against Northern Ireland in 2011.

“Thank you for giving me the opportunity to live my childhood dream,” Snodgrass wrote on Instagram.

“It’s been such a special feeling pulling on that Scotland jersey since I was 16 years old,” he added.

“There’s been many highs which I’ll always remember with fondness, including my debut against Northern Ireland, winning two international player of the year awards and my hat-trick in Malta.

“It’s now the right time for me to step aside. I want to especially thank the Tartan Army for the special support you’ve showed me over the years.

“I will now watch as a fan and I hope to see us play at a major tournament again soon – fingers crossed the boys do it come March.”

Snodgrass represented the national team at under-19, under-20 and under-21 level and was part of the sides that reached the final of the Under-19 2006 European Championships in Poland and the 2007 Under-20 World Cup in Canada. He was first called up to the senior side for a friendly against Japan in October 2009, but was forced to withdraw due to a knee injury. He then made his full debut on 9 February 2011 as a substitute in the 3-0 Nations Cup win over Northern Ireland in Dublin.

 

About Sean Whetstone

I am Season Ticket Holder in West stand lower at the London Stadium and before that, I used to stand in the Sir Trevor Brooking Lower Row R seat 159 in the Boleyn Ground and in the Eighties I stood on the terraces of the old South Bank. I am a presenter on the West Ham Podcast called MooreThanJustaPodcast.co.uk. A Blogger on WestHamTillIdie.com a member of the West Ham Supporters Advisory Board (SAB), Founder of a Youtube channel called Mr West Ham Football at http://www.youtube.com/MrWestHamFootball, I am also the associate editor here at Claret and Hugh. Life Long singer of bubbles! Come on you Irons! Follow me at @Westhamfootball on twitter