Vidic Retires

Manchester United's Nemanja Vidic announces international retirement

• Vidic ends Serbia career after failure to qualify for Euro 2012

• Internazionale midfielder Dejan Stankovic also retiring

Associated Press

guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 12 October 2011

Manchester United's Nemanja Vidic and Internazionale's Dejan Stankovic have ended their Serbia international careers following the team's failure to qualify for the 2012 European Championship.

Vidic missed a penalty in a 1-0 defeat by Slovenia on Tuesday as Estonia beat them to the play-off spot for Euro 2012, while Italy finished top of Group C.

The 29-year-old Vidic said it was "time for a change of generations and for some older players to say goodbye to the Serbian jersey".

Stankovic, who is 33, said: "I played many matches, helped the national team and it's time for me to turn to my tasks with Inter Milan."

Stankovic played his 102nd match for Serbia on Tuesday, equalling the record set by Savo Milosevic. Vidic has 56 caps.

Bad news for Serbian team but for United this is a good news. Vidic decision meant he will be focusing on his duty only for United. He will have enough rest for the league games, less risk for injury, no more a long and tired trip for national duty and more focus as captain of the Red Devils. We can see from the performance of Scholes when he retired from national team. He was more energetic, focus and sharp. He only 29 and had more years with United.