Buriram United FC and Philippines goalkeeper Neil Etheridge has announced his retirement from international football less than a week after leading the Thai club to the 2025/26 ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup™.
The 36-year-old, who debuted for the Philippines as an 18-year-old in 2008 and played 82 times for the country, made the announcement on social media on Monday.
“Thank you to everyone I have come across and I wish nothing but success for the next generation of Filipino footballers across the world,” Etheridge wrote on Instagram.
“All I wanted from the beginning was to make a difference and I hope that I was able to achieve that with my service to the country and national team. On that note, this is my official retirement from international duty.”
Etheridge was born in London to an English father and Filipina mother and chose to represent the Philippines while playing for Fulham having previously represented England at Under 18 level.
He was a key member of the Philippines squad that reached the semi-finals of the ASEAN Championship in 2010, a run that included a historic 2-0 win over Vietnam in Hanoi in the group phase.
Etheridge would go on to help the Philippines qualify for the AFC Asian Cup for the first time in 2019 although he was unable to represent the country at the finals due to his club commitments in the Premier League with Cardiff City.
During his time with Cardiff, Etheridge became the first Filipino to play in the Premier League and made an immediate impact, saving penalties in his opening matches against AFC Bournemouth and Newcastle United.
Etheridge, who captained his country on 15 occasions, last played for the Philippines in a friendly against Malaysia in September 2024 but had remained available for selection until his announcement on Monday.
Share now
