BREAKING: ASHLEY WILLIAMS

Ashley Williams: Former Wales and Swansea captain announces retirement
Sky Sports News


Ashley Williams has announced his retirement from professional football

The 36-year-old defender confirmed the news that his career, which saw him play across all levels of English football, has now come to an end.

Williams made 86 international appearances which included captaining Wales to the semi-finals of Euro 2016 where they were beaten by the eventual winners of the competition, Portugal.

The central defender was an integral part of Swansea's rise to the Premier League, having joined the Welsh club in 2008 while in League One.

Williams spent eight years at the Liberty Stadium and won the League Cup during his time there.

In a statement, Williams said: "After consideration of recent offers to continue playing, I would like to announce my retirement as a professional footballer.

"It has been an honour to play 741 games across all levels of the English football league and to represent some incredible teams and Swansea.

"It has been an unbelievable journey and one I will look back on with my family and be immensely proud of.

"Captaining Wales in a European Championship semi-final in 2016 was my greatest achievement and something I will never forget.

"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."

In 2016, Williams signed for Everton and spent three years at Goodison Park. After a loan spell at Stoke, the final club of his playing career would be Bristol City where he made 32 appearances.

You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.

All partisan thoughts apart, Ashley Williams was a good footballer and a superb part/captain of the most successful Wales international team in over 50 years

He can look back with immense pride and I wish him a long and happy retirement

Been an honour to represent some incredible teams...and Swansea. haha!

All partisan thoughts apart, Ashley Williams was a good footballer and a superb part/captain of the most successful Wales international team in over 50 years

He can look back with immense pride and I wish him a long and happy retirement

Absolutely.

His leadership was a key factor in the success of that team and I think he’ll go down as one of the best captains Wales has had.

And THAT equaliser/celebration about Belgium in the QF - what a header!

Good example of how there are some gems in the lower divisions Swansea signed him from Stockport I think.

Forget the jacks, ashley did wonders for our country and we wish him well for the future as a welshman.

All partisan thoughts apart, Ashley Williams was a good footballer and a superb part/captain of the most successful Wales international team in over 50 years

He can look back with immense pride and I wish him a long and happy retirement

Well said Chris. I wish him all the best for the future.

Forget the jacks, ashley did wonders for our country and we wish him well for the future as a welshman.

If it wasn't for Swansea buying him he probably wouldn't have become Welsh captain .Just saying

Forget the jacks, ashley did wonders for our country and we wish him well for the future as a welshman.

If it wasn't for Swansea buying him he probably wouldn't have become Welsh captain .Just saying

was this part of your long term football philosophy too.....

Forget the jacks, ashley did wonders for our country and we wish him well for the future as a welshman.

If it wasn't for Swansea buying him he probably wouldn't have become Welsh captain .Just saying

Talk about stating the bloody obvious, Gunny...!

Take this praise for 'one of yours' in the good spirit it was intended and don't make yourself look even dafter than we currently think you are...

I can say he lost a lot of respect from me after he and Joe Allan "incident" in the tunnel at our ground.

f**k him.

I can say he lost a lot of respect from me after he and Joe Allan "incident" in the tunnel at our ground.

f**k him.

This^. Got no time for Williams. F**k him x2

I wouldn't expect anything less from a Jack saying what he said, imagine if it had been a Cardiff player something about Swansea, it would have been hilarious.

All part of the banter and rivalry, at least he had the balls to say it rather than how we have played against them in the last few games.

Good luck for the future YJB

Fab player at his best and very good captain...did his country proud and wish him all the best....be a great mentor for Rodon in the Walescamp

Not Welsh, a Jack and slagged off City fans. He can get f*ked.

The biggest compliment you can pay him is he is the type of player/character we would have loved to have at Cardiff and for what he achieved with Wales can only give him respect despite being a JB.

Did well to come back from the " Fun Fair "

Can’t stand him..

Fondly remembered for all his horrendous back passes that cost his side goals

Jack c**t

My over riding memory of him was when he led a group of his team mates to the funeral of a Swansea fan.

Went up massively in my estimation that day.

I’m not bothered about a bit of banter from him and Joe Allen.

Forget the jacks, ashley did wonders for our country and we wish him well for the future as a welshman.

If it wasn't for Swansea buying him he probably wouldn't have become Welsh captain .Just saying

was this part of your long term football philosophy too.....

You wouldn't know, as you haven't got one or ever had one.

Can’t stand him..

Fondly remembered for all his horrendous back passes that cost his side goals

Jack c**t

Were those his back passes that got us into the Premiership, I remember well your first promotion year with your open top bus full of yobs shouting "we're coming to get you jacks" Do you remember that

Forget the jacks, ashley did wonders for our country and we wish him well for the future as a welshman.

If it wasn't for Swansea buying him he probably wouldn't have become Welsh captain .Just saying

was this part of your long term football philosophy too.....

You wouldn't know, as you haven't got one or ever had one.

Can’t stand him..

Fondly remembered for all his horrendous back passes that cost his side goals

Jack c**t

Were those his back passes that got us into the Premiership, I remember well your first promotion year with your open top bus full of yobs shouting "we're coming to get you jacks" Do you remember that

And here you are on a Cardiff forum

I'm not sure if somebody has amended what he said but I did have a giggle at the part where he said it had been an honour to represent some incredible teams "and Swansea"