Lebanon dealt new blow as captain Antar retires

11:58 04/12/2013
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  • Lebanon captain Roda Antar has retired from international football citing exhaustion and a desire to make way for the next generation as the reasons behind his decision.

    Antar, 32, has earned over 40 caps for his country since making his debut as an 18-year-old at the 1998 Arab Nations Cup. The attacking midfielder is undoubtedly one of Lebanon’s greatest ever players, but having played an instrumental role in the progression of the national team in recent years, Antar has decided to call it a day.

    “This is a long over kept decision, but I think that now is the time,”Antar said in a statement. “I have been playing for the national team for the past 14 years and within these years I hold some of my best memories within my career.

    “But in everyone’s lives there reaches a point where something has to come to an end. Therefore I will like to announce my retirement from the National Team.”

    Antar added: “Honestly, I am exhausted. Constant long distance traveling has made me physically tired and I also need to spend more time with my son. Now is also the ideal time for young players to be given the chance to prove themselves in the National Team.”

    Antar had previously spent a stint in international retirement in 2010 before returning to the setup at the behest of current coach Theo Bucker, under whom he played during the German’s first stint in charge in 2000.

    Having spent the majority of his career in Germany, Antar is one of just two Lebanese players to experience a European career.

    The Sierra Leone-born midfielder left Lebanese club Tadamon Sour for a two-year loan spell at Hamburger SV, but having failed to establish his place, moved to Freiburg in 2003.

    Antar spent four years at Freiburg before enjoying a two-year spell at FC Koln. Antar is currently in the Chinese Super League with Shandong Luneng and is proving to be a big success.

    Antar’s retirement is the latest blow to the Lebanon national team following the match-fixing scandal that has engulfed the setup in recent months. Coach Bucker is also considering his own future after the scandal left him “heart-broken.”

    READ MORE:

    * EXCLUSIVE: Bucker tells Sport360 that the football scandal as “demolished” Lebanese football

    * OPINION: Bucker the real victim in sad Lebanese football scandal

     

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