Christiane Endler announces retirement from international football

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·3 November 2023

Christiane Endler announces retirement from international football

Legendary Chilean goalkeeper Christiane Endler has announced her retirement from international football.

The 32-year-old Lyon shot-stopper said: “It’s time to give young girls the opportunity to prove themselves, so they can represent Chile and experience these feelings on the pitch. It’s time to turn the page, to give a chance to someone else.”

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After making her international debut in 2009 aged 18 against Mexico, Endler went on to win 105 caps for La Roja, helping them qualify for their first World Cup in 2019. She herself excelled, although Chile failed to get out of a group which included Sweden and the United States.

As well as being her country’s number one and latterly captain, in 2016 Endler — along with her Chilean teammates — formed the Asociación Nacional de Jugadoras de Fútbol in a bid to combat years of neglect and decay of the women’s national side by the FA. This led to the team dropping out of the FIFA World Rankings in 2016 due to inactivity.

ANJUFF, which is recognised by FIFPRO, sought to improve the conditions for Chilean footballers, giving them a collective voice.

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In 2018, Endler and Chile finished second in a home Copa America. This also qualified them for their first World Cup.

Chile failed to get out of the group as one of the best third placed teams. Endler, never one to sit on the fence, criticised coach Jose Letelier for not giving minutes to the squad’s more experienced players in their final group game against Thailand. They exited the tournament on goal difference.

A swathe of honours have come Endler’s way during her time on the international scene. Among them include being named Copa America Goalkeeper of The Tournament in 2010, IFFHS World’s Best Women’s Goalkeeper in 2021 and 2022, and The Best FIFA Goalkeeper in 2021.

With her time in the national side now at an end, Endler can now focus her efforts on her club Lyon, who she won the domestic treble with last season.