Spain full-back Jesus Navas has announced he will retire from international football following Sunday’s European Championship final against England and he will end his playing career entirely at the end of the year.
The 38-year-old was part of the Spain squad that won the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012, and he has made three appearances at this summer’s tournament, becoming the oldest player to represent Spain at a major tournament.
Navas confirmed his decision on Saturday, when praising national team captain Alvaro Morata and adding that he was speaking at the team’s pre-final press conference as: “Morata told me that it was a time for me to speak since it is my last game with Spain!”
The Sevilla played continued that a decision on his club future “has already been decided”; he will “help the club in a difficult moment” by continuing to play until the end of December 2024 before ending his playing career.
Navas added: “I am excited about everything that I have done in football and in the national team. Being here as a 38-years-old is unique and incredible.”
Navas, who won the World Cup in 2010 and Euro 2012 with his nation, also spoke of the comparison between that Spain side and the current version.
“In those years of success we were a team both on and off the pitch,” Navas said. “That was noticeable when we played and it is the same here.”
Navas has made 56 appearances for Spain across a 15-year affiliation with the national team.
He made his international debut in a friendly against Argentina in November 2009 and featured three times at the 2010 World Cup, including as a substitute in the final as Spain beat the Netherlands 1-0 in extra time to be crowned world champions for the first time.
Navas made a further three appearances at Euro 2012, scoring once, as Spain became the first back-to-back European Championship winners.
(Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
He was not selected for the 2014 World Cup and a period of nearly five years without an international call-up followed, before he returned to the squad in March 2019 for their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign. Having previously operated as a winger for Spain, the former Manchester City man was instead utilised at right-back.
Navas had another three-year absence from the national team between 2020 and 2023 before being recalled for the Nations League semi-final and final last year. The Sevilla captain played in both matches as Spain beat Croatia on penalties to win the competition.
He earned a place in Luis de la Fuente’s Euro 2024 squad and captained the side in their final group stage fixture against Albania — 12 years on from his last appearance at a major tournament.
Navas signed a “lifetime” deal with Sevilla in May, renewing his playing contract until December 2024. He will then take up a role within the club following his retirement.
He has spent 17 years at Sevilla across two spells either side of a four-year period at Manchester City, winning the Europa League on four occasions and the Copa del Rey twice.
(Miguel Medina/AFP via Getty Images)
