Kyle Walker picks his five best England teammates

Kyle Walker announced his retirement from international football earlier this week, following a career which saw him win 96 caps with the Three Lions.

After making his senior debut back in 2011, Walker went on to feature in five major tournaments for England which included appearances in two UEFA EURO Finals in 2021 and 2024 as well as the World Cup semi-final in 2018.

Along the way, the former Sheffield United, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City, AC Milan and current Burnley defender has lined up alongside some of the best England players in history.

So, we asked Kyle to pick the top five he’s played with…

He mused: “The top five England players that I played with, in no particular order?

“Wayne Rooney and Harry Kane, for sure.

“I think John Stones has got to be in there, so I'm going to put John and Harry Maguire both in, because I think they've been a rock in the defence for all the best tournaments when we've obviously gone and achieved great things.”

So with four on the list, who makes Kyle’s final spot?

“I played with the likes of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard, but I don’t think I got their best years when I was coming through.

“I think Raheem Sterling also gets overlooked a lot for what he's done for English football, with his performances in major tournaments when he’s scored some important goals.

“There's just too many…Luke Shaw, he pops up, Kieran Trippier, he pops up and Jordan Pickford has been unbelievable too, so I think as he's a keeper, I’d put Jordan in there.

“There's probably too many players to mention just five, because I've been very fortunate to experience so many great memories.”

Walker did have one extra request though, a coach on the sidelines to lead his five-strong selection.

“First and foremost, at the top of that list, is Gareth Southgate for what he's done.

“What he's done for this country, not just on the field but off the field as well, is nothing short of genius.”