Istanbul (AFP) – Borussia Dortmund midfielder Nuri Sahin on Thursday announced his international retirement after Turkey’s failure to reach the World Cup, despite being just 29 years old.

“I’d like to announce that I am putting an end to my career with the national team,” Sahin wrote on Twitter and Instagram, adding that he wanted “to give way to a new generation” of players.

Voted Bundesliga Player of the Year in 2011, the Germany-born player made 52 appearances for Turkey and scored two goals.

Turkey missed out on making the World Cup when Iceland won their group and Croatia bagged a spot in the play-offs as one of Europe’s best runners-up.