For the Green and White Army, the real privilege has been watching Evans excel on the world stage, delivering outstanding performances, particularly during the Euro 2016 Finals in France, where he earned the title of the “King of Lyon.”

In a heartfelt statement, Evans reflected on the tournament in France as the pinnacle of his international career, describing it as a dream come true. He took the opportunity to thank his family, teammates, managers, and the Northern Ireland fans, whom he called “the greatest in the world.”

Evans’ international journey began as an 18-year-old in a memorable 3-2 victory over Spain in 2006 and came full circle when he played his final match against Spain in June. Despite stepping down from international duty, he will continue to play for Manchester United, having secured a contract extension for the remainder of the season after impressing in his return to the club.



Evans said: “After much thought and consideration, I believe now is the right time to retire from international football after 18 years.

“From my debut in 2006, when we defeated Spain, to my last game in June 2024, it has been an incredible privilege.

“Representing Northern Ireland and wearing the green shirt 107 times has been the greatest honor of my life. You, the fans, are truly the best in the world. I have been so proud to represent each and every one of you on the pitch.

“Your unwavering support and love have never gone unnoticed, and I will deeply miss those nights together.

“The highlight of my international career, without a doubt, was the Euros in France in 2016. Reaching a major tournament and representing our wee country was a dream come true.

“Those nights in France, with a sea of green in the stands and the GAWA in full voice, will remain with me forever.”

Evans continued: “To my teammates—there have been many—it has been an honor to play alongside you all. The moments we’ve shared at Windsor Park and beyond will be cherished as some of the best of our footballing careers.”

He gave a special mention to his younger brother, Corry, saying: “What we achieved and experienced together as brothers on the pitch is something very few can relate to, and it’s something we both treasure deeply.”

Evans also expressed gratitude to Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill and his previous international coaches Lawrie Sanchez, Nigel Worthington, and Ian Baraclough.

“The majority of my caps were earned under Michael, who has been a constant throughout my career,” Evans noted.

“The future of the team under Michael’s guidance is bright, with many exciting and successful days ahead for Northern Ireland. I’ll be cheering them on just like every other member of the Green and White Army.”

Author

Hello reader, I'm Ben. I love to write and talk about sports and I am, unfortunately, hopeless at golf. Thanks for reading! 

Ben Lynch