Australian hockey continues to be gripped by retirements. First, Kookaburras head coach Ric Charlesworth fast-forwarded his retirement plans (he was to retire after the 2014 Commonwealth Games), and chose to stand down after shepherding the national side to World Cup glory in the Hague, Netherlands. Seasoned midfielder Rob Hammond subsequently called it a day. Now comes the turn of another Aussie player Liam De Young to call time on his international career.
Young, who is one among only four
Australians to play more than 300 internationals (others being Brent Livermore,
Jay Stacy and Jamie Dwyer), probably took the decision to zip into the sunset
on a ‘high’ – the 2014 World Cup glory. Young was also part of the 2010 World
Cup-winning team in New Delhi and featured in four World Cups in all.
The 32-year-old star midfielder, who made
312 international appearances, won three Olympic medals, three-time
Commonwealth Games gold medallist and was also a member of the Australian Champions
Trophy winning team on four occasions.
Young made his senior international debut
against Belgium in October 2001 under then coach Barry Dancer – a game Australia won 3-1.
The writer can be contacted at:
suhridbarua@gmail.com
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