Wayne Rooney made the right decision by retiring now.

Wayne Rooney called time on his international career on Wednesday when he declined the offer to return to England’s team for their next competitive fixtures. In an official statement, he said,
“It was great Gareth Southgate called me this week to tell me he wanted me back in the England squad for the upcoming matches. I really appreciated that,”
“However, having already thought long and hard, I told G But I believe now is the time to bow out.areth that I had now decided to retire for good from international football.
“It is a really tough decision and one I have discussed with my family, my manager at Everton and those closest to me.
“Playing for England has always been special to me. Every time I was selected as a player or captain was a real privilege and I thank everyone who helped me. But I believe now is the time to bow out.
After 14 years, 119 appearances, 53 goals, 5 European and International competitions, two red cards, Wayne Rooney called time on his relatively illustrious career with the Three Lions. Rooney released the above in an official statement on Wednesday, prompting mixed responses from supporters and players alike.

Many felt he should have not retired now, with the 2018 World Cup qualification almost but secured, while many thought he should have left the international stage a long time ago; that he should have paved the way for more vibrant and energetic players to get into the national team. His last appearance for England came last November when he captained them to a 3–0 victory over Scotland in a World Cup qualifying match, and he was overlooked for the matches against Germany and Lithuania in March.
Wayne Rooney made his debut, and become England’s youngest appearance maker at 17 years and 111 days (later surpassed by Theo Walcott), in a defeat by Australia at Upton Park in February 2003. In September of that year, aged 17 years old, he scored his first international goal against Macedonia in a UEFA EURO 2004 qualifying match. It was at the EUROS that he rose to prominence. His headline-grabbing braces against Switzerland and Croatia announced him to the world and everybody sat and began to take notice.

Phil Neville, a fellow England squad member at Euro 2004, recalls: “I remember when he first got into the squad — the youthfulness, the bravery, the courage he showed, particularly at his first major tournament in Portugal.
“He was a breath of fresh air. No-one enjoyed playing for England more than Wayne Rooney.” He continued his meteoric rise, appearing for England in every tournament they participated in, captaining them to UEFA EURO 2016, where they were disappointingly knocked out by Iceland.
Truth is, Rooney made the right decision by retiring on his own terms, and in his own rights. He had not played for the team in 8 months, his football career seemed to have stalled after lack of proper playing time, his inability to nail down a specific playing position did not help matters too. He has become something of a distraction, an undroppable yet unplayable captain. He left Old Trafford for Everton probably because he wanted to concentrate solely on club football, having giving up of any recall to the national side — and he seems to have found his old self again.
England are planning for a new “golden generation”, and while Rooney was tolerated and accommodated before now, there are younger — and better — options in attack. Harry Kane is the first-choice striker, Jamie Vardy and even Jermaine Defoe provide versatility and a change of tactics. Then there’s Marcus Rashford, and Daniel Welbeck, and Daniel Sturridge, provided the latter duo can shake off their recurrent injuries.

Rooney will always be remembered. After all, he is the country’s all-time goalscorer, the most capped outfield player, the second most-capped player, their youngest competitive goalscorer. He might not be revered because of his inability to deliver at the international stage but he will be respected for putting his all for his country. “He’s definitely the greatest goalscorer we’ve ever had,” said Neville. “I think he’s made the right call for his career and probably made the right call for Gareth Southgate as well. He’s gone out at the top and as England’s greatest ever goalscorer — what a classy way to bow out from what’s been a fabulous international career.”
Rooney was right to have retired now.
