Football
ESPN staff 6y

Netherlands striker Bas Dost retires from international football

Prolific Sporting striker Bas Dost has announced his retirement from international football after just 18 caps for the Netherlands.

Dost, just 28, has scored 193 goals in 364 appearances in his professional career, but has netted just once for his country since making his debut in March of 2015. 

He watched from the bench in the Netherlands' 3-0 friendly victory over Portugal last month but said on Tuesday he'd contemplated quitting the national team for quite a while.

"I have suppressed the feeling that I wanted to stop with [international football] for a long time," Dost said.

"The fact that I felt really rotten for a week [after the last international break] was the deciding factor.

"It did not go well with Netherlands for whatever reason. I have come to the moment when I say 'no more.' It just has not worked."

Dutch manager Ronald Koeman said of Dost's retirement: "Bas told me personally -- I think that was good of him. I'm sorry he is retiring.

"I certainly saw a role for him with Netherlands. When I started as the national team coach, I said that I would like to use the first four international matches to try out players and playing methods so, in that sense, much is still open.

"But I respect the decision he has made, also because I understand that he has had this feeling for some time."

^ Back to Top ^