Northern Ireland v Bosnia

Brunt took the difficult decision to bring his international career to an end after months of soul searching. Michael O’Neill was desperate for him to have one last go at playing in a major tournament but balancing international football and trying to help West Brom back to the Premier League was going to be too difficult and something had to give. “After a lengthy period of consideration I have taken the difficult decision to retire from international football,” he said. “I have spent a lot of time thinking it over but I feel, at this point in my career, I need my sole football focus to be on helping West Bromwich Albion return to the Premier League. “The past six or seven years, since Michael has been our manager, have been the most enjoyable of my international career. It has always been an honour to represent my country but Michael restored pride following a difficult period for us as a team. He took us to a new level and for that I will always be grateful. “He is one of the best managers I've worked with at any level of football and I have nothing but admiration and respect for the job he’s done and continues to do. Not only that he’s also a genuinely good guy who I enjoy spending time with and learning from.” Unsurprisingly, modest Brunt also had a word of thanks for the unsung heroes behind the scenes. The Irish FA’s medical team gave him terrific care following his serious knee injury and even visited him in hospital in Lyon after he had travelled to France for surgery. He added: “I would like to thank my team-mates and all of the staff who have helped me over the years. A special thank-you to the medical team who gave me so much support during our last campaign, especially after my knee injury.” Brunt made his debut on 18 August 2004 in a friendly match against Switzerland in Zurich which ended 0-0.  He ended his international career against the same opposition, with the same scoreline, when O’Neill’s men went agonisingly close to qualifying for this summer’s World Cup in Russia before falling at the final hurdle in the play-off in Basel last November.  It was a constant source of bemusement how someone with such a deadly left foot didn’t score more goals on the international stage. He scored three times for his country. The first was a free-kick away to San Marino in 2009, while his final goal was also a free-kick – a perfectly placed strike against Czech Republic in Belfast in September 2017. The one in between came against Azerbaijan at Windsor in 2016. His pin-point delivery meant that he always provided an attacking threat and he played in eight of the games that saw Northern Ireland reach Euro 2016 before serious injury struck.

CHRIS BRUNT

Position Left Back/Left Midfield Date Of Birth 14.12.1984 Place Of Birth

MIDFIELDER

Belfast Height 187cm Weight 85kg

CLUBS Middlesbrough 0 Sheffield Wednesday (loan) 6 Sheffield Wednesday 134 West Bromwich Albion 348 11 SQUAD NO CLUB RECORD INTERNATIONAL RECORD 11 Debut 18.08.04 SQUAD NO

Caps 65 Goals 3

v Switzerland (H) Drew 0-0

Northern Ireland U19 Northern Ireland U21 Northern Ireland U23 Northern Ireland

8 2 1

65

41

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