Tapos na ang serbisyo ng goalkeeper na si Neil Etheridge para sa Pilipinas.
Matapos ang 18 taon, inanunsyo ni Etheridge ang pagreretiro mula sa pambansang koponan.
Sa kanyang Instagram post, binalikan ni Etheridge ang mga masasaya at masasakit na karanasan sa pagrerepresenta sa Pilipinas, ang bansang pinili niyang paglingkuran bilang isang 18-anyos kahit na siya ay ipinanganak at lumaki sa England at naglaro na sa Under-18 para sa Fulham.
“Love and heartbreak. Passion and desire. I never stopped caring, I always gave everything for the team and the country,” ayon kay Etheridge.
“All I wanted from the beginning was to make a difference and I hope that I was able to achieve that with my service to the country and national team.”
Nagbigay-pugay si Philippine Football Federation president John Anthony Gutierrez kay Etheridge at sa kontribusyon nya sa Pilipinas.
“Neil Etheridge helped change the trajectory of Philippine football. His courage, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to the country inspired a generation of players, particularly world class goalkeepers, and his legacy will forever be woven into the story of our game,” ani Gutierrez sa isang pahayag noong Sabado.
“On behalf of the Philippine Football Federation, we thank Neil for 18 years of extraordinary service. While his national team duty has come to an end, the impact he made on Philippine football will continue to be felt for generations.”
Lahat ng 13 manlalaro ng “Miracle of Hanoi” team ay nagretiro na. Noong 2010, tinalo ng Pilipinas ang Southeast Asian champion Vietnam sa group stage ng AFF (Asean Football Federation) Championship.
Si Etheridge, na sumali sa pambansang koponan sa edad na 18, ay nagtala ng 82 international caps (bilang ng paglalaro sa national team) mula 2008 hanggang 2024.
“I made my decision to play for the Philippines. Qualified for the first time ever to the Asian Cup for the country. First Filipino player to ever play in the Premier League. I made some amazing friends along the way and met some great people. Memories that will last with me forever,” paggunita ni Etheridge, ang unang Pilipino at unang Southeast Asian footballer na nakapaglaro sa English Premier League noong 2018.
Habang naglalaro para sa Cardiff City, nasalo niya ang isang penalty sa kanyang Premier League debut bago niya napanalunan ang Player of the Year award ng club at ang Mr. Football of the Year honor mula sa Philippine Sportswriters Association.
Pinasalamatan ng beteranong national team fullback na si Daisuke Sato si Etheridge sa pagiging mabuting ehemplo habang tinawag naman siya na “the best ever” ng dating national team assistant coach at Miracle of Hanoi goal scorer na si Chris Greatwich.
“The national team stood on the shoulders of your efforts over the past two decades,” ani Greatwich.
Ang isang pang goal scorer sa Hanoi na si Phil Younghusband ay pinuri si Etheridge dahil ibinigay ang lahat para sa national team.
“That deserves massive respect,” ani Younghusband.
Ang kasalukuyang winger ng Pilipinas na si Alex Monis ay nagdagdag din ng magagandang salita para kay Etheridge.
“True legend that inspired generations, teaching me what it means to represent this country,” isinulat ni Monis sa social media.
Ipinanganak si Etheridge sa bayan ng Enfield sa North London noong Pebrero 7, 1990 sa English na si Martin Etheridge at Pilipinang si Merlinda Dula.
Patuloy na maglalaro si Etheridge sa Thai team na Buriram United.