Jonny Williams, the Welsh midfielder who was part of the squad that reached the semi-finals of Euro 2016, has announced his retirement from international football at the age of 29.
Williams confirmed his decision in a statement released by the FAW on Sunday evening. He calls time on an international career that’s yielded 33 appearances and two goals for his country.
Williams received his first call-up under Gary Speed in October 2011, but had to wait until the following year to make his first appearance, replacing Gareth Bale off the bench in a 2-1 win over Scotland.
He then made his first start four days later in the home defeat to Croatia, and would go on to feature at both Euro 2016 and Euro 2020, and was also selected in Rob Page’s squad for the recent 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
In his statement, Williams wrote: “I have decided that the time is right for me to step back and retire from international football. From the age of 15, it has been an absolute honour and privilege to wear the red dragon on my shirt.
I’ve been blessed to play with and alongside so many great players and people over the years.” Williams thanked the Welsh fans for sticking by him and welcomed him into the family from day one.
Williams is the latest star to step away from the international scene. Gareth Bale, Joe Allen, and Chris Gunter are the others to have called time on their Wales career since the showpiece in Qatar, and Page now faces something of a rebuild as he looks to get Wales to a third major tournament in eight years.
Rob Page is set to announce his latest squad for the upcoming Euro 2024 qualifiers with Croatia and Latvia on Tuesday.
»Wales star Jonny Williams announces retirement from international football at the age of 29«
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