SEATTLE (AP) – Jess Fishlock, who has played for the Seattle Reign since the National Women’s Soccer League’s first season in 2013, will retire at the end of this season.
Fishlock, who signed a one-year deal with the club, will be honored on Oct. 2 when Seattle plays North Carolina. The 39-year-old midfielder’s last game of the regular season is scheduled for November 1st.
“It’s hard to explain in words what Seattle and this club mean to me,” Reign captain Fishlock said in a statement Tuesday. “This is where I grew up, where I fought and where I experienced the best moments of my career. We have built something so much more than football, and I’m so proud to have been a part of it from day one. I will never take for granted the people, the fans, and the city that have supported me all this time, and I plan to give everything I have to this final season.”
Fishlock’s 49 goals rank second on the club’s career list, and his 30 assists rank first. The Wales international was named the 2021 NWSL MVP and is a seven-time All-League selection.
“She is not only one of the greatest players in NWSL history, but also one of the most influential people in our game,” Reign general manager Lesl Gallimore said.
Fishlock played for Wales for 19 years, retiring as an international player in October last year. She played 166 games and scored 48 goals, the most for any Wales player for either a man or a woman.
Last summer she led Wales to their first major international appearance at the Women’s European Championship, becoming the tournament’s oldest scorer with her goal against France.
“Jess is one of the greatest players to ever play in this league, but what really makes her special is the kind of person she is every day,” Reign coach Laura Harvey said. “She sets the standard with her work ethic, competitive spirit and love of the game, but what sets her apart is also her football brain. She sees things that others don’t, and that understanding of the game has been invaluable to this team over the years.”
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