Bresciano calls time on Socceroo career
Australia midfielder Mark Bresciano has announced his international retirement following a glittering 15-year career which spanned some of the Socceroos’ greatest triumphs.
Bresciano was an integral part of the national team for much of his career and had a knack for contributing crucial goals, none more so than his lone strike against Uruguay in 2005 which helped the Socceroos end a 32-year FIFA World Cup™ drought.
Bresciano’s career was book-ended by landmark achievements with the Melbourne-born 35-year-old debuting in a win over France at the 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup – Australia’s first over a reigning world champion in a competition match – while he also featured in three matches at last month’s AFC Asian Cup won by the Socceroos for the first time.
With 84 appearances Bresciano is the fifth most-capped Australian player, having also scored 13 goals. Bresciano played in three World Cups (2006, 2010 and 2014), two Asian Cups (2007 and 2015) two FIFA Confederation Cups (2001 and 2005) and the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.
His retirement leaves Tim Cahill and Josh Kennedy as the last surviving members of the “golden generation”, which took the field at the 2006 World Cup as Australia reached the knockout stage for the only time.
"Playing for my country in the sport I love has been an amazing experience and something I have cherished but never taken for granted."
Mark Bresciano
“Playing for my country in the sport I love has been an amazing experience and something I have cherished but never taken for granted,” said Bresciano.
“I have been fortunate enough to wear the Socceroo shirt at every major football tournament, meet some tremendous people, shared the highs and lows with some great players, and capped it all off by helping us win the 2015 Asian Cup.
“It has been an unforgettable journey with a lot of positive memories, but I feel it is time to let this fantastic group of young players continue to take the Socceroos forward.”
Bresciano continues to play for Qatar’s Al Gharafa, having enjoyed a nine-year career in Italy’s Serie A with Parma, Palermo and Lazio.