Hodgson: Rooney retirement surprised me

The pair remain in contact to this day and it was under Hodgson that Rooney became England's all-time record appearance maker and goalscorer.

Hodgson made the forward England captain when in charge of the Three Lions, but a lot has changed since then, with the experienced manager now in charge of Premier League basement boys Crystal Palace and Rooney having returned to boyhood club Everton.

Speaking ahead of Saturday's game against Rooney's Everton, Hodgson said that he thought Rooney would have kept playing in order to feature at next summer's World Cup in Russia.

"I thought he would try and continue to get to the next World Cup," explained Hodgson.

"I was a little surprised when he retired. I spoke to him then: we texted. These are decisions players have to make.

"I'm not party to all those facts and considerations he's thought about. But one thing I do know is England owes him - he owes England nothing - because he gave his all for England and did more than his fair share of what someone could expect for England.

"His record alone would put him in that category [of the greatest I have managed].

"When the day comes when he says he wants to retire, even if it surprises a guy like me because I know how passionate he is about playing for England, I am very sure he's had good reasons for coming to that decision.

"He's thought about it very, very carefully before ringing Gareth Southgate up and telling him.

"I don't keep in contact with players all the time - I've got enough players here to deal with - but I like to think those players I worked with know that I still care about them and still appreciate what they did for me in my England time."