Ashley Williams - A tribute to our leader and Cymru legend
International
26 January 2021

Ashley Williams - A tribute to our leader and Cymru legend

The inspirational captain behind our greatest success, Ashley Williams has announced his retirement from professional football, and it is only fitting that we pay tribute to the leader who inspired Cymru to reach an unprecedented high during one memorable summer in France.

The influence of Ashley Williams on Cymru reaching the semi-finals of UEFA EURO 2016 can be traced back to a sunny June afternoon in Paris as Chris Coleman’s side defended a 1-0 lead against Northern Ireland in the round of 16. In a microcosm of his international contribution, his 86 appearances for Cymru can be defined in his determination to see that particular game through.  

“I’m fine,” he shouted to Coleman as the manager prepared to remove his clearly injured leader from the battlefield. Colliding with Jonny Williams in the 81st minute with Cymru heading towards the quarter-final stage, Williams struggled to move with a damaged shoulder, but stood his ground and put his body on the line to carry his team into the last eight.

It was a defiant statement from the captain that he would see the job through, and it was symbolic how holding his arm in place meant holding the armband that he was not about to give up for the remaining minutes of the match. Northern Ireland pressured the Cymru defence in the final exchanges, but with Williams at the heart of every desperate clearance, the lead remained intact. 

The final whistle at the Parc des Princes brought an outpouring of emotion from Williams as the euphoria of the achievement numbed the pain in his shoulder. As the adrenaline of the moment subsided, the magnitude of his own journey to that point was etched on his face. From being released by West Bromwich Albion and playing for non-league football for Hednesford Town as a teenager, this was the reward and testament to his character that had achieved against the odds.

There would be more to come from Williams as he equalised for Cymru in the famous win over Belgium in the next round. The elation of what was only his second international goal saw the captain sprint to the technical area and celebrate with the players and staff in a show of unity that made the success that summer possible. One of the defining images of the tournament, Williams' goal shifted the game back into Cymru's favour to spark the most memorable of victories.

“He deserved that because of his performance and his mentality towards the group, towards Wales, towards all of us,” explained Coleman when asked about Williams' goal in an interview with UEFA TV last summer. “He's an incredible leader, he's absolutely first-class, and I was so delighted for him when he got it. We'd worked on it in training and it was a superb header. That's what really lit the fire on the evening.”

Cymru were eliminated by eventual tournament winners Portugal at the semi-final stage, but the disappointment was compensated for by the scale of what Williams and his team had achieved as they returned to hero’s welcome on the streets of Cardiff. While others provided the goals and the creative spark, it was Williams who consistently performed as the defensive rock upon which the success was built on.

Williams was the natural leader for his country when Coleman appointed him as captain and gave him the armband in October 2012. It was a poignant step that marked the start of a new era for Cymru as the manager began to build a team in his own vision having succeeded the late Gary Speed. With a strength of character formed from a career path unlike most of his peers, Williams put his personal mark on Coleman’s side, and his commitment to the cause defined the spirit that existed within that particular group of players.

The most-successful period of Williams' club career also occurred in Wales as he achieved two promotions with Swansea City over eight seasons, and lifted the EFL Cup as captain at Wembley in 2013 as the club qualified for the UEFA Europa League. Making over 350 appearances for the club following his arrival from Stockport County, he would later play for Everton, Stoke City and Bristol City before bringing his career to an end earlier this week.

Announcing his retirement from professional football on Tuesday at the age of 36, Williams reflected on his Cymru career and a journey that began against Luxembourg in 2008 under John Toshack. Difficult periods followed prior to the EURO 2016 qualifying campaign, but Williams remained part of a dedicated core of players who came through those initial tough times. “Representing my country on 86 occasions was beyond my wildest dreams,” explained Williams in his statement. “Captaining Wales in a semi-final European Championships in 2016 was my greatest achievement and something I will never forget.” 

A veteran of over 800 competitive games over the course of his 20-year career, Williams will be remembered and revered as the most-successful captain in Cymru history. The leader behind our finest hour, a high standard for future captains to aspire to has been set by the man who defied the odds to reach the very top of his profession. On behalf of The Red Wall, diolch Ash, for everything.