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LONDON - Ryan Giggs will retire from international football after Sunday's (NZ time) Euro 2008 qualifier against Czech Republic, the Wales and Manchester United winger said today.
Giggs, 33, announced his decision at a news conference near Cardiff.
"I felt it was the right time for me and for Wales, they'll have plenty of time to pick another captain and prepare for next season," he said.
"I don't feel I have been performing so well for Wales, maybe it's the amount of football I've played. Hopefully I'll be fresher and enjoy the last one or two years of my career...I think it's right for all three parties."
Giggs will sign off at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium with 64 caps, 16 years after winning his first as a 17-year-old, at the time making him Wales's youngest international.
"It's been a privilege to have him as captain," said John Toshack, who gave Giggs the armband when he took over the manager's role from Mark Hughes in 2004.
"We are talking about a very special person here, not just anybody who's decided to retire."
Giggs has been part of a Wales team who have consistently failed to qualify for major tournaments and said the disappointments of 1993 and 2003 were the low points.
Wales were heartbreakingly close to making the 1994 World Cup when they needed to beat Romania in Cardiff in their final qualifier but missed a penalty and lost 2-1 to the eventual quarter-finalists.
Ten years later they lost to Russia in a playoff for the 2004 European Championship after earlier looking well-placed to win their group and reach their first finals since the 1958 World Cup.
"I've said it over and over again that I wanted to play against the best players and in the best tournaments," said Giggs.
"It's disappointing not to have done that but I've been fortunate to have had such a successful club career so I won't grumble."
Although the talented winger has been one of his country's few world class players, his relationship with the national team has been far from harmonious as he limited his appearances to competitive matches.
His first appearance in a friendly came nine years after his debut while the only capped away friendly he ever appeared in was against Brazil in London last September.
- REUTERS
