Welsh defender, Ashley Williams has announced his retirement from professional football after 20 years as a senior player, scoring 24 goals in 741 appearances for clubs and country.
Williams last played for Bristol City but was released in the summer after just one season at Ashton Gate and in an open letter, he admitted that he had considered offers to continue playing but has instead decided to retire.
The 36 year-old went on to speak of pride about his career, saying; “It’s been an unbelievable journey and one I will look back on with family and be immensely proud of.”
Having been released by West Bromwich Albion as a youth player, Williams begun his career at Hednesford Town in Non League in 2001 and went on to play for Swansea then Everton in the Premier League across his career.
Speaking in his open letter on the experience of evolving from Non League to a top Premier League star and captaining Wales, Williams penned; “Starting from Non-League to playing at the highest level in the Premier League, as well as representing my country on 86 occasions was beyond my wildest dreams.”
Williams in particular picked out captaining Wales to the semi-finals of UEFA Euro 2016 as his “greatest achievement …,” despite helping Swansea to promotion into the Premier League via 2010-11 Championship Play-Offs then winning 2012-13 League Cup after defeating Bradford in the Final.
Praise was also credited to all of Williams’ former clubs from teammates to staff and fans, with Stockport County, Swansea and Everton amongst those clubs of whom Williams played for over the last two decades.
Williams concluded his open letter by reflecting on valuable lessons learned throughout his playing career, saying; “Football has taught me so much both on and off the field and I will take this with me into the next chapter. I look forward to still being involved in the game in the future.”
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