Former Republic of Ireland captain Roy Keane has announced his retirement from international football.
Keane said in a statement he was retiring from international football due to medical reasons, dashing hopes of a return to the Ireland squad.
The Manchester United star released the statement through his advisor Michael Kennedy this afternoon.
In it, Keane says that following consultation with the medical officials that operated on his hip last September he was compelled to announce his retirement from international football.
The statement read: "During a meeting with Brian Kerr last week he outlined to me his future plans for the Irish team."
"It was my first meeting with Brian and I formulated the opinion that the Irish team was in very capable hands."
"It has always been my desire to play again for Ireland and following my meeting with Brian, I discussed in depth with my manager Alex Ferguson, my wife and my immediate family the possibility of my return to international football."
"I also consulted with my medical team who operated upon my hip last September."
"The unequivocal advice given to me by my doctors was that I should not return [to international football]."
"In the light of such advice I regret that I am compelled to confirm my retirement from international football.
"I am extremely grateful for all the support I have received in recent months and I am equally sorry that I am unable to play again for my country."
"I wish Brian and the players the best in the future. They will have my full support at all times."
Kerr, in Scotland for tomorrow night's friendly against Scotland, had met with Keane for more than three hours in Manchester last Thursday to discuss the 31-year old's exile from international football.
The newly installed Ireland manager, who takes charge of the team for the first time at Hampden Park, said this evening that Keane had assured him he would return to the Ireland set-up upon the conclusion of that meeting.
He told reporters gathered ahead of tonight's Under-21 international friendly at Kilmarnock: "I had a meeting with Roy Keane last Thursday for three hours and the meeting went very, very well indeed.
"I left the meeting very happy and Roy gave me an unequivocal commitment that he would be back to play in the team and that he would come to Scotland to start the process in relation to his return for the matches in Georgia and Albania.
However, having discussed it with manager Alex Ferguson and the Manchester United medical staff on Friday, Keane phoned Kerr to tell him he needed to rethink his position.
Keane considered his position over the weekend and confirmed his decision to Kerr last night. Kerr, who admitted to some bad feeling over the timing of Keane's statement, went on to wish the Untied captain all the best in the future.
"I've accepted his decision," said the Ireland manager. "I wish him the very best of luck in his career with Manchester United."
"It's now time to move on," he added.
Keane missed four months of this season following hip surgery at the start of September.
The midfielder, who earned 58 caps, had vowed never to play for Ireland again while Mick McCarthy was in charge after their bust-up at a pre-World Cup training camp in May.
Hopes of a return had been building since Kerr's appointment, but Alex Ferguson said last week he thought Keane could prolong his club career if he gave up international football.
Ferguson pointed to the example of Alan Shearer, who is now playing some of the best football of his career having retired from the international stage.
Eamon Dunphy, who ghosted Keane's controversial autobiography last year, said he believed international retirement was the right decision.
"It's a decision that respects the people he works for and that takes into account the injuries he's had, his age and the ambitions and responsibilities he has as Manchester United captain," he told RTE.
"He'll be remembered as one of the greatest players ever to play football, one of the greatest players ever to play for Manchester United and one of the greatest captains Ireland has ever had."