Lucas Zelarayán Retires from International Football for Personal Reasons
Armenia national football team midfielder Lucas Zelarayán has announced his retirement from international duty, citing personal reasons. Head coach Yeghishe Melikyan confirmed the decision and emphasized the impact of this loss on the team’s future prospects.
Lucas Zelarayán, a key player for the Armenia national football team, has decided to step back from international competition, as confirmed by head coach Yeghishe Melikyan. The Argentina-based midfielder’s retirement comes amidst personal family issues, which he communicated to the coaching staff just before the team’s upcoming match against Ireland.
Melikyan noted that Zelarayán had been contemplating his international career even before his appointment as head coach. Recognizing the importance of Zelarayán to the team, Melikyan had hoped to encourage him to remain with the national squad. However, the midfielder has opted to prioritize his family at this time.
Armenia is set to wrap up its FIFA World Cup Qualifying campaign in the coming days, with a match against Hungary in Yerevan followed by a trip to Portugal. Zelarayán’s absence will be felt as the team seeks to finish strong in the qualifiers.