Kookaburras great Liam De Young has announced his retirement from hockey, bringing the curtain down on a glittering career.
The 31-year-old Queenslander, one of only four men to play more than 300 times for Australia, was a member of the side that claimed gold at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.
De Young who made his debut in 2001 as a 19-year-old, went on to win two Hockey World Cups, four Champions Trophy crowns and three Commonwealth golds.
But he said the time was right to hang up his stick after helping the side beat the Netherlands 6-1 in the recent World Cup final in The Hague.
"As much as I enjoy being part of the Kookaburras and feel privileged to have been part of such an elite program, I know that physically and mentally, I can no longer commit to the program 100 per cent and it is time to step away," De Young said.
De Young finishes his career with 35 goals in 312 appearances.
