Planet Swans ArchivesColeman, 32, suffered leg injuries when his Jaguar left the road and collided with a tree in January 2001 and has been bravely battling the injuries ever since. He had started to make his playing comeback for Fulham reserves in March of this year and made a two minute appearance for his country in the win over Germany in the Summer.
However, doctors have now told the defender that if he were to carry on playing then he would suffer irreperable damage to his leg.
“I’ve reached a stage where I’m not getting any better,” Coleman told BBC Sport Online. “I didn’t want to reach the stage where I had a limp by the time I was 40. After the accident I was lucky to be alive, let alone think of playing football again, but it was still a difficult decision to retire.”
Coleman has also been offered a coaching role within the Wales set-up with manager Mark Hughes deciding that there is a place for Chris coaching the Under-21s.
Fulham manager Jean Tigana said “He can start with the Under-15s and Under-17s and with me. He’s a good man and has the possibility to manage at a high level, so it’s a good opportunity for him and for Fulham. I knew he wouldn’t be able to play again, but I prefer that he made the decision. Chris has the possibility to manage at a high level because he is a leader. Now he has to work on it.”
Coleman played almost 200 games for the Swans in a four year spell at the club before leaving for Crystal Palace in 1991. Big Money moves to Blackburn and Fulham followed before tragedy struck and caused the premature end to his career.
All at JackArmy.net would like to wish Chris Coleman the very best in his future and all fans are invited to send their tributes to Chris on the BBC web-site at this link
