KEY POINTS:
Ten years after his first international appearance Noah Hickey has called it quits but is not discounting a return to lower-level domestic soccer.
Hickey, 28, surprised many with yesterday's announcement which ends his life as an international and professional footballer. Hours earlier All Whites coach Ricki Herbert had said Hickey would be in the national squad for matches against Wales and Ukraine in late May-early June.
There was some suggestion of a falling-out between Hickey and Herbert after the matches against Costa Rica and Venezuela in March and that that had led to Hickey's decision not to join Herbert at new A-League franchise Wellington Phoenix.
After the 4-0 and 5-0 losses in Central and South America, Herbert criticised his players, saying 95 per cent of them were unfit, and called for greater commitment.
Hickey said yesterday talk of a falling-out was wide of the mark, as he had been weighing up an offer from Herbert to join the Phoenix with one from the United States.
"In the end I decided that after 12 good years of senior football, and given other projects I'm involved in, it was time to retire at that level," said Hickey. "I'm really happy with my career and what I achieved but feel it is time to move on. "
After first playing senior football under Kevin Fallon at Central United as a 15-year-old while still at Glendowie College, Hickey played his first full international against Papua New Guinea in 1997 - a match of which he has no fond memories. On a sub-standard pitch, New Zealand lost 1-0 and Hickey seriously injured an ankle.
He played 37 times for New Zealand, citing last year's friendly against Brazil and the Confederations Cup clash with France as the highlights.
Away from the international stage - where he scored seven times for his country - Hickey helped Tampere United win the Finnish first division and with it a place in the UEFA Cup.
"I was proud of what I did there. I scored a lot of goals and helped the club take the title by one point," said Hickey, who also tasted Chatham Cup and National League glory with Central United.
Rarely a first-choice player in any one position with the national side, Hickey's greatest contribution was his pace and versatility. He played in a variety of positions, more often than not on the flanks.
His biggest disappointment was in not being able to take up an offer from English club Walsall. As he had no family connection to get him into Britain, his applications to play there were, on a number of occasions, declined on the basis of New Zealand's low ranking on the Fifa list.
His most recent New Zealand clubs were the Football Kingz and NZ Knights. while he has turned his back on the game professionally, he may join Japan-bound Waitakere United later in the year.
Noah Hickey
* Born: June 6, 1978.
* Clubs: Eastern Suburbs, Central United, Football Kingz, Tampere United (Finland), NZ Knights.
* Representative honours: NZ under-20, under-23, All Whites.
* All Whites debut: vs Papua New Guinea 1997.
* Appearances: 37.
* Goals: Seven.
