New Delhi: Mahesh Gawli, who was one of the highest paid Indian footballers at a time, has said goodbye to his international career. The Team India announced his International Retirement on Monday. Gawli, who represented India in 82 International Matches, informed his decision to the AIFF in a letter. He thanked the AIFF, his coaches and team-mates, his clubs and the fans who stood by him all throughout.

Gawli wrote: “It is delightful and so appropriate to have a perfect farewell to my International career on winning the SAFF Championship 2012, which is more heartening.” Gawli, a registered Dempo FC footballer, added that he will continue to play club football for some “more years.”    

PERSONAL PROFILE:
Date of Birth: 23.1.1980
International Matches played: 82
International Debut: vs Thailand in Pre-Olympic Qualifiers (July 24, 1999).
Goals scored: 1 (vs Bhutan in SAFF Cup in 2005 -- Karachi).
Captained India in one match: vs Malaysia in Guwahati (November 13, 2011).

PART OF WINNING SQUADS:
Bristol Freedom Cup, 1998 (Colombo).
LG Cup, (Vietnam).
SAFF Cup, 2005 (Karachi).
Nehru Cup, 2007 (New Delhi).
AFC Challenge Cup, 2008 (Hyderabad/New Delhi).
Nehru Cup, 2009 (New Delhi).
SAFF Championhip, 2011 (New Delhi).

Clubs played for:
FC Kochin (1998-99).
Churchill Brothers (2000-02).
East Bengal (2003).
Mahindra United (2004).
Dempo SC (from 2005 onwards).