Jelavic retires from international football

Hull City forward Nikica Jelavic surprised Croatian national football coach Niko Kovac by announcing his retirement from international football.

The 29-year-old's announcement Saturday came just a day after Croatia beat Bulgaria 1-0 in Sofia in a qualifying match for Euro 2016, reports Xinhua.

Jelavic spent entire 90 minutes of the match on the bench.

The striker told Kovac later that he was retiring from his international duties because he was not satisfied with his role in the team.

"I have to admit that Jelavic surprised me and that I am sorry that he is leaving the team, but I have to accept his decision. I want to thank him for all that he did for the Croatian national team. I can only wish him all the best in his life and in his future career," Kovac was quoted as saying on the Croatian Football Federation official website.

Jelavic played 36 matches for Croatia and scored six goals but since Kovac became head coach his playing time has deteriorated.

He was picked for a starting lineup only once, in the World Cup opener against Brazil, when he was involved in the only goal that Croatia scored in a 1-3 defeat.

In the next two matches in the group he only got 16 minutes against Mexico. In the recent Euro 2016 qualifying campaign he played in the second half against Malta and scored the second goal in a 2-0 victory and stayed on the bench against Bulgaria.

Jelavic became the fourth player from the Croatian World Cup squad to have decided to retire from international football.

Goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa, 35, Brazilian-born striker Eduardo da Silva, 31,and midfielder Ognjen Vukojevic, 30, are the other three that announced their retirements after the World Cup where Croatia had a disappointing early exit without making it to the knockout stage.

Croatia will play the next Euro 2016 qualifier Monday in Osijek in the eastern part of Croatia, against Azerbaijan.