Arsenal midfielder Kim Little has announced her retirement from the international game at the age of 31.
The player has spent almost 15 years in the Scotland international side in which she has scored 59 goals in 140 senior international appearances.
The Scottish Football Association confirmed Little’s decision via their official website earlier today. The midfielder has opted to retire now with Scotland’s FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia New Zealand 2023 qualifying campaign set to begin in just 16 days’ time.
Little made her Scotland debut as a 16-year-old in early 2007, coming off the bench to feature against Japan. Little has represented Scotland at the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019 while she missed the UEFA Women’s EURO two years’ prior due to injury. The player has also been selected to represent Team GB at two Olympic Games, she was a member of the squad which competed in Japan this summer.
Speaking following her decision to retire from international football, Little said “Stepping away from playing international football is something I have been considering for a while and I feel now is the right time to make that change.
“I am proud of the 15 years I have spent representing the national team. I have developed and grown as a person through my experiences representing my country and know they will help me in countless ways in the future.
“Thank you to my teammates for being incredibly empowering and inspiring women. My most vivid and fondest memories are from being by your side on and off the pitch through good times and some challenging times, pushing for progress for the women’s game.
“I now look forward to supporting you all from afar and can’t wait to watch you perform and continue to improve the women’s game in Scotland, paving the way for more young girls to have a career as a footballer.
“I want to wish Pedro (Martinez Losa) and the team all the very best for the up-and-coming qualifiers in September and for the rest of the campaign and beyond.”
Little will now focus on achieving further honours with her club.