Fishlock to retire at end of NWSL season, club announce
Jess Fishlock played for Wales over 19 years since making her senior debut in 2006
- Published
Wales legend Jess Fishlock is to retire at the end of the current National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) season, her club Seattle Reign have announced.
Fishlock, 39, called time on her international career last October but signed a new one-year deal with Reign the following month.
The NWSL side say "one of the most iconic careers in club and league history" will end later this year, with Reign's final regular season game taking place on 1 November.
"It's hard to put into words what Seattle and this club mean to me," Fishlock told the club's website.
"This is where I've grown, where I've fought, where I've experienced some of the best moments of my career.
"I'll never take for granted the people, the fans and the city that have supported me through it all, and I'm going to give everything I have in this final season."
Fishlock has been with Reign since their inaugural season in 2013.
She is the only player who was part of their original squad who remains at Reign, where she has so far made 219 NWSL appearances.
Fishlock has helped Reign to three NWSL Shields and three NWSL Championship appearances, while she was the league's MVP in 2021.
Reign general manager Lesle Gallimore hailed Fishlock as "not only one of the best players in NWSL history, but one of the most influential figures our game has seen".
Reign head coach Laura Harvey added: "She has carried this club on her shoulders at times and has always done it with pride. Her impact on this team, this city and the sport as a whole is immeasurable."
Fishlock, Wales' greatest female footballer, began her club career at Cardiff City and had spells at AZ, Bristol Academy and Melbourne Victory before joining Reign.
While with the American club, she has had loan spells at Glasgow City, Frankfurt, Lyon, Melbourne City and Reading.
is the record appearance maker and goalscorer for her country, having netted 48 times across 166 international appearances.
In March, she joined Wales' coaching staff as a technical assistant for the Women's World Cup qualifier against Czech Republic.
As it stands, she does not have a permanent role with Wales, with the focus on the remainder of her playing career.
