Bosnia captain Dzeko to retire from international football

SARAJEVO: Veteran Bosnia and Herzegovina captain Edin Dzeko announced on Thursday that he will retire from international duty following the October match against Sweden. The 40-year-old forward, who plays for Schalke in Germany's Bundesliga, recently turned 40 in March. In a statement on social media, Dzeko expressed his desire to step aside, acknowledging that he gave his all during his time with the national team.

He is widely regarded by fans as "Dijamant," which translates to "diamond" in Bosnian. Dzeko has been the captain of Bosnia since 2014 and has signed a one-year extension with Schalke after helping them return to the Bundesliga last season. The Sarajevo-born star has made 151 appearances and scored 73 goals for his country since his international debut in 2007, making him Bosnia's most-capped player and all-time leading scorer.

Dzeko called on fans to attend his farewell match against Sweden on October 2, expressing his hope that they will be there to share the final night representing his country.