Wayne Rooney has retired from international footballl
Rooney, England’s record goalscorer with 53 goals in 119 games, was expected to hold talks with Gareth Southgate this week and has now called time on his international career.
And Rooney claims Southgate had told him he wanted him to return to the England squad, but then decided it was time to bow out.
Rooney made his England debut in 2003 and played at four World Cups.
He broke the scoring record, previously set by Sir Bobby Charlton, in September 2015 by scoring his 50th England goal against Switzerland in a Euro 2016 qualifier.
And he bows out as one of the best English players of his generation.
He said: "It was great Gareth Southgate called me this week to tell me he wanted me back in the England squad for the upcoming matches. I really appreciated that.
"However, having already thought long and hard, I told Gareth that I had now decided to retire for good from international football.
"It is a really tough decision and one I have discussed with my family, my manager at Everton and those closest to me.
"Playing for England has always been special to me. Every time I was selected as a player or captain was a real privilege and I thank everyone who helped me.
I believe now is the time to bow out
Wayne Rooney
"But I believe now is the time to bow out.
"Leaving Manchester United was a tough call but I know I made the right decision in coming home to Everton. Now I want to focus all my energies on helping them be successful.
"I will always remain a passionate England fan. One of my very few regrets is not to have been part of a successful England tournament side. Hopefully the exciting players Gareth is bringing through can take that ambition further and I hope everyone will get behind the team.
"One day the dream will come true and I look forward to being there as a fan – or in any capacity."
Rooney had been dropped from the last few squads under Southgate but returned to form at Everton this season sparking debate about a recall ahead of next summer's World Cup.
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Southgate announces his squad for the next set of qualifers tomorrow with England to face Malta and Slovakia.
FA Chairman Greg Clarke said: “Today marks the end of an era in international football.
"Wayne Rooney is an icon of his generation and an undoubted legend of the game.
"As his country's all-time leading goalscorer and most-capped outfield player, it goes without saying that Wayne has deservedly earned the right to forever be called a Three Lions great.
"I know it was always a huge honour for Wayne to pull on the England shirt and led his country as captain with great pride.
"It's with sadness that we see Wayne call time on his international career but we respect his decision and expect to see him continue to contribute to Everton and the rest of the football world for many years to come.
"From street footballer to England captain, Wayne continues to be an inspiration for all."
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Wayne Rooney scored his 50th goal for England against Switzerland
Wayne Rooney's career in numbers
119 - Appearances for England, the most by an outfield player and only six shy of goalkeeper Peter Shilton's all-time record.
71 - England wins in which Rooney appeared, with 29 draws and 19 defeats.
53 - Rooney's England-record goal haul.
7 - Only seven of his goals have come at the final stages of international tournaments, four of them as an 18-year-old at Euro 2004.
1 - He has scored only once at a World Cup, against Uruguay in 2014.
6 - Rooney has played in six major tournaments, with England missing Euro 2008.
22 - He has led England out as captain 22 times, as well as seven other occasions when he has worn the armband for part of a game.
17 - Rooney made his international debut as a substitute in a friendly against Australia in February 2003 aged 17 years and 111 days - an England record at the time, since surpassed by Theo Walcott.
45 - Sir Bobby Charlton held the England scoring record for 45 years before Rooney reached his half-century in 2015.
6 - Rooney played under half a dozen England managers - Sven-Goran Eriksson, Steve McClaren, Fabio Capello, Roy Hodgson, Sam Allardyce and Gareth Southgate.
12 & 2 - Having been famously sent off against Portugal in the 2006 World Cup and again in a Euro 2012 qualifier in Montenegro, Rooney also has 12 yellow cards in his international career.
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Wayne Rooney’s top five England goals
England 2 Denmark 3 (November 16, 2003)
Rooney, then an 18-year-old Everton player, gave Manchester United fans a glimpse of his potential with a fine striker against the Danes at Old Trafford. The striker burst from the halfway line, took advantage of a fortuitous deflection off a Denmark player, before thundering a shot in off the underside of the crossbar from 20 yards.
Croatia 2 England 4 (June 21, 2004)
England needed just a draw to qualify for the second round at the European Championships, but they went behind to Niko Kovac's early strike. Paul Scholes equalised and Rooney then swung the game beyond Croatia with a 25-yard drive.
England 3 Argentina 2 (November 12, 2005)
Rooney was the best player on the park in what was one of the most fiercely-contested and enthralling friendlies in living memory. The then 20-year-old harassed the Argentina defence all night and got the goal he deserved in the 38th minute when he latched on to David Beckham's flick-on and slotted the ball into the corner to equalise Hernan Crespo's opener.
England 1 Ukraine 0 (June 19, 2012)
After sitting out the first two matches of Euro 2012 due to suspension, Rooney delivered on his return, bundling home at the back post to send England through to the second round.
Brazil 2 England 2 (June 2, 2013)
England were given the honour of being the first national team to visit the newly-rebuilt Maracana in Rio de Janeiro and Rooney scored a goal worthy of the occasion. With the score at 1-1, Rooney picked the ball up in the Brazil half and strolled towards goal before unleashing a 25-yard drive that flew right into the top corner.
