Austria midfielder Marcel Sabitzer will take a break from international football and miss this year’s Nations League group matches, the Austrian Football Association (OFB) confirmed on Sunday.

The 32-year-old Borussia Dortmund midfielder has scored 27 goals in 102 appearances for Austria. He will now take time to consider his international future before the start of the 2028 European Championship qualifiers next March.

Sabitzer explained that the demanding schedule of recent seasons had taken its toll, with the EURO 2024 campaign followed by club and international commitments, including the Club World Cup and World Cup.

“The past two years have been very intense. Since EURO 2024, I’ve effectively played three seasons because of the Club World Cup and the World Cup,” Sabitzer said in a statement released by the OFB.

“This season is also packed, with the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and Champions League. I’m 32 years old, I still want to play football at the highest level for several more years, and I have to manage my energy carefully.”

Sabitzer said he had reached an agreement with Austria coach to step away from international duty for now, with both parties planning to discuss his potential return early next year.

“I therefore agreed with the coach, in open and trusting discussions, that I would take a break now and that we will discuss at the beginning of next year whether I will return to the national team for the Euro qualifiers.”

In the same statement, Austria coach Ralf Rangnick admitted it was disappointing to lose Sabitzer for international duty but said he fully understood the midfielder’s decision.

“We will make a joint decision in good time before the start of the EURO 2028 qualifying matches about how to proceed. In any case, I’m pleased that Marcel will basically be available again if we need him. That shows me how important the national team still is to him.”

Rangnick is set to announce his squad on Monday for Austria’s upcoming Nations League fixtures against Israel in Linz on September 24 and Kosovo in Vienna three days later.

Austria will then travel to Dublin to face Ireland on October 1 before meeting Kosovo away in Pristina four days later.