Last Updated: Thu, 06 Dec 2012 16:27
West Ham defender Guy Demel has announced his retirement from international football so he can focus on his club career.
The 31-year-old Ivory Coast international has announced his retirement just a month before the African Cup of Nations is due to start.
His decision will make manager Sam Allardyce very happy as the Hammers look to continue their positive return to the Premier League.
The defender has been capped 35 times for the African nation, although as a French citizen he was granted an Ivorian passport in 2004.
Demel was hindered by injuries in his first season with the club last year and only featured for a full 90 minutes in the play-off final against Blackpool.
The former Borussia Dortmund man has been a rock for the east London side this campaign, making more appearances so far this term than in the whole of last year.
After signing from SV Hamburg he agreed a two-year deal with the Hammers, which will run out at the end of this season but the club has the option of a one-year extension.
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