"I'LL MISS EVERYTHING" | Juani calls time on Azkals career

Kevin Estrada

By Kevin Estrada

MANILA--Juani Guirado said that the Azkals' final home World Cup Qualifier match against North Korea will be his last for the Philippines in the pre-match press conference on Monday held at the Century Park Hotel in Roxas Boulevard.

The skipper for the Tuesday night match announced his retirement from international play with 34 caps for the center-back; debuting against Malaysia in 2012 and scored only once against Palestine that sealed third place for the Azkals in the AFC Challenge Cup the same year.

But before that, he echoed Thomas Dooley's sentiments in the importance of this match and added that they are ready for it.

In their final training session late Monday at the Rizal Memorial Stadium, he said that they will give their best.

"I'll miss everything," Guirado when asked about his retirement after the press-conference.

His announcement of hanging his boots for the Azkals took him a couple of weeks and earned some oohs and wows at the Corregidor Ballroom.

In that statement, he cited that his 37-year-old body cannot take anymore too much playing and training, both for the country and Ceres.

He thanked everybody, from the team to his family, for his four years of service to the country in which he garnered a Peace Cup and played two ASEAN Championship semifinals.

"I'm happy because we have a future in football in the Philippines with the new generation," the center-back said with glee when asked about the sport's status in a basketball-mad country.

"Today I can say more than ever, I'm proud to be a Filipino. Laban Pilipinas!" Guirado concluded.

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