Jess Fishlock (10 Wales) celebrates after Angharad James (8 Wales) scores her team’s second goal during the International Friendly football match between Wales and Northern Ireland at the Cardiff City Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. (James Whitehead / SPP)
Wales head coach Rhian Wilkinson says she hopes Jess Fishlock will be part of the backroom staff at the next international camp.
Fishlock, 39 next month, retired from international football in October this year after representing Wales across almost two decades – and scoring their first-ever goal in a major women’s international tournament this summer at the Euros.
And in a recent BBC podcast interview, Wilkinson said: “I’m hoping she’ll be on the staff in the next camp, that will be an important one.
“In what capacity – that will come. I have great Welsh people around me on my staff and it’s important that I keep making sure there’s a lot of Welsh voices and a lot of Welsh passion, to make sure we never lose that from the national team.”
The next Wales camp will be in March as the squad prepare for their Women’s World Cup qualifying campaign, which begins in the Czech Republic on 3rd March and continues at home to Montenegro four days later.
Wilkinson: Fishlock could still play international football
Fishlock will continue to play for Seattle Reign in the NWSL, and has signed a further one-year deal keeping her in the USA.
And Wilkinson added: “I think we know that Jess could still be playing [internationally].
“I think knowing that you’ve got more in the tank… it’s going to be a hard year for her because she knows that she could still play for Wales.
“But she was able to retire at home in Cardiff with her amazing clan of Fishlocks surrounding her. I think that was important.”
Jess Fishlock: I’d love to work something out
The BBC quote Fishlock as saying she would love to be involved – although there may be logistical difficulties.
“Being a part of the group and their future is something I would love, of course,” Fishlock said.
“I’d love to be able to give experience and sometimes a little bit of calmness.
“It’s just how and what that looks like. Obviously I live in America so that makes it a little bit tricky, but I’d love to try to work something out with that.”
