Indian football team defender Mahesh Gawli, who represented the country in 82 matches, today brought the curtain down on his 12-year-old international career.
Gawli, who plays for Dempo on the domestic circuit, will now focus only on club football.
"Football is a demanding sport. I have played at the highest level for 14-15 years and once you play for your country, you need to achieve continuously. I feel I've had enough of international football," said Gawli, who made his debut against Thailand during the pre-Olympic qualifiers in July, 1999.
The footballer, who will turn 32 in January next year, said that he had a satisfying career and insisted the decision to hang the boots was an unanimous one.
"From my personal side, I feel I've achieved quite a lot and it's time for me to stop now and focus entirely on club football. I have consulted my family and it's an unanimous decision. It is delightful and so appropriate to have a perfect farewell to my international career on winning the SAFF Championship 2012 which is more heartening," Gawli said.
The Dempo footballer, however, will continue to play club football for another "five-six years".
Gawli also felt that football in India has changed for better since his debut.
"The football played nowadays is entirely different. The present lot is a more confident unit who understands the value of holding onto the ball.
"Earlier, the primary focus stayed in clearing the ball. Nowadays, there's more constructive play. The mind stays pre-dominant in the brand of football we play now. The attitude and the fitness of the players have improved leaps and bounds," he insisted.