\n<\/p>\n
Veteran Bosnia and Herzegovina captain Edin Dzeko announced on Thursday that he would retire from international duty after October\u2019s Nations League match against Sweden.<\/strong><\/p>\n The forward, who plays for Schalke in Germany\u2019s Bundesliga, turned 40 in March.<\/p>\n \u201cNow I feel the time has come to step aside,\u201d Dzeko said on social media.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I have made it to the age of 40 with the national team, it is because I truly gave everything I had. Every time. Everything.\u201d<\/p>\n He is known by the country\u2019s fans as \u2018Dijamant\u2019, which means \u2018diamond\u2019 in Bosnian.<\/p>\n \u201cNothing in my career has ever compared to the pride I have felt every single time I wore that shirt. Nothing,\u201d added Dzeko, who has been Bosnia\u2019s captain since 2014.<\/p>\n In August, he signed a one-year contract extension with Schalke after helping them return to the Bundesliga last season following three years in the second tier.<\/p>\n He joined Schalke on a free transfer from Fiorentina in January.<\/p>\n Dzeko\u2019s former clubs also include Wolfsburg, Manchester City, Roma, Inter Milan and Fenerbahce.<\/p>\n The Sarajevo-born star began his club career with Zeljeznicar.<\/p>\n With 151 appearances and 73 goals since his international debut against Turkey in June 2007, Dzeko is Bosnia\u2019s most-capped player and all-time leading scorer.<\/p>\n On Thursday, he called on fans to attend his October 2 farewell match in the central town of Zenica.<\/p>\n \u201cFor now, I just hope you will be there that night against Sweden, so we can share one more emotion\u2026 because every one of these incredible moments has been something we have lived together,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd that is how I want to experience my final night representing my country: with all of you by my side, wearing the shirt I have loved since I was a boy, and the shirt I will love for the rest of my life.\u201d<\/p>\n Bosnia play Nations League matches against Poland, Romania and Sweden at the end of September and beginning of October.<\/p>\n Dzeko led Bosnia during the recent World Cup in North America, in the Balkan nation\u2019s second appearance at the global football showpiece.<\/p>\n Bosnia were eliminated by co-hosts the United States in the last-32.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n