Glenn Whelan says he has no intention of retiring from international football and that he will answer the Republic of Ireland’s call if it ever comes again in the future.
The Aston Villa midfielder will win his 85th, and in all probability final, cap for Ireland in Thursday’s friendly game with Northern Ireland at the Aviva Stadium.
He hasn’t featured in a Martin O’Neill squad over the last 12 months and he has been called in this week to give the long-serving Dubliner a fitting send-off.
Whelan won’t travel to Aarhus for next week’s Nations League clash with Denmark, but he is looking forward to pulling on the green jersey one last time.
"The international retirement thing is something I will never do," said the 34-year-old, who featured at European Championships in 2012 and 2016.
"I never picked when I came to play for Ireland and I’ll never pick when I don’t want to play. I spoke to the boss already and he knows if anything happens down the line, I’ll be available."
When asked about his future, Whelan said: "I have done all my coaching badges, but retirement is still a long way down the road yet."
Ireland boss O’Neill was full of praise for Whelan, who made his international debut in 2008.
"He will lead the side out tomorrow," said O’Neill. "That will be 85 caps, which is no mean feat; it’s really brilliant.
"During my time, despite the fact that he’s a quiet man in many respects, he led the team and he was captain under me.
"In my five years in the job, he missed out last year, he’s really been excellent. We’ve had the occasional difference of opinion and I have obviously been right, but I have great respect for him," he joked.
Whelan knows that captaining Ireland against Northern Ireland in his home town in what is likely to be his final international appearance will be an emotional occasion.
"The phone hasn’t stopped ringing this week, there are people coming from everywhere and my little lad is going to be mascot - he’s been getting his football boots and new kit ready all week.
"My family are going to be there so it’s going to be an emotional time. I’ll try to enjoy it as much as I can.
"I’ve seen a lot of different times and there have been different highlights. Once I finish I’l be able to look back over it all. To get my 85th cap - if you said to me when I was a kid that I’d win one, I’d have taken your hand off.
"The older I get the more I appreciate playing for Ireland. There have been great times."
