Croatia's Prso retires from international football

Croatia and Glasgow Rangers forward Dado Prso juggles with a ball during a training session in Stuttgart, Germany, June 2006. Prso has decided to retire from international football because of persistent knee problems, Croatian papers have reported.

Croatia and Glasgow Rangers striker Dado Prso has decided to retire from international football because of persistent knee problems, local papers have reported.

"I had to retire some time and I have decided that that moment has come," Prso told Monday's edition of the Sportske Novosti daily. "I decided to quit since I am 32 years old, I have an extremely serious (left) knee injury and the end of my overall career is approaching."

Prso said that after this season, the last of his contract with the Scottish giants, he would make a decision about what to do next.

The pony-tailed striker made his debut in the national squad in a March 2003 European Championship qualifier against Belgium.

Croatia won 4-0, with two of the goals scored by Prso, launching his international career in style. With the retirement of Croatia's main striker Davor Suker, Prso's place in the national team was secure.

Prso has played 29 games for Croatia and scored nine goals.

He had left Croatia in 1994, during the 1991-95 Serbo-Croatian war, for France and has since played for Rouen, St Raphael, Ajaccio, Monaco and Glasgow Rangers.