All Whites skipper Hay retires

All Whites skipper Hay retires

All Whites skipper Danny Hay has announced his retirement from the national side, effective immediately.

Hay, who has played 34 games for New Zealand since making his debut against Oman in 1996, said he would be doing coach Ricki Herbert no favours if he kept playing.

"It has been a very tough decision to make," Hay said in a statement. "Playing for my country is something that is, of course, very important to me. It has given me some of my highest highs in the game and it is a wrench to leave the team. "The ultimate honour has been to captain the side. That little bit of cotton with the `C' on it is something that I wore with pride. To be honest, the captaincy is the thing that has kept me in international football.

"But with a World Cup campaign around the corner for the All Whites I would be doing Ricki Herbert and the boys a disservice if I kept playing because my heart wouldn't be in it.

"The All Whites and the future of football in New Zealand will always be important to me but my priorities recently have changed.

"There are new challenges to be focused on and while I'll continue to play in the NZFC for Waitakere United, there is now no room for international football."

He gave good service to the All Whites, his depature is quite timely as he leaves us at a time where we have good cover and options in the centre back position.

Yeah cheers Danny.

Good decision, has lead well but was being out shined by others coming through.

Deaker interviewed him between 1 and 2pm yesterday and took some calls.

I meet him when I was very drunk a year or so go, I interrupted him in the middle of his dinner at some pub in town when I was off my face and talking a lot of drunk rubbish, he would of had every right to tell me to piss off, but was really friendly and willing to have a quick chat about the Knights. He seemed a very genuine nice guy, all the best Danny!

Has been a great servant for the All Whites in the past.  Has made the right decision to retire from international football.  All the best with Waitakere in the NZFC and best of British for life after football Danny.

I was living in Perth when he played played for Leeds in Champs Lge semi at the Nou Camp. I had to get out of bed during the week at about 3am and I stayed up the entire game hoping to see him run on. Finally in about the 87th minute Lucas Radebe got inured and Hay came on. Must have been an immensely proud occasion for him. Fantastic to hear him say it didn't compare to playing for the AW's though.