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| Wednesday, 2 October, 2002, 16:56 GMT 17:56 UK Your tributes to Chris Coleman ![]() Fulham defender Chris Coleman announces his retirement after losing his long battle to regain full fitness following a serious car crash. Send your tributes to the former Welsh international. Coleman suffered serious injuries in January last year when his car crashed on a lane in Outwood, near Bletchingley, Surrey. He expressed doubts about being able to continue his career throughout his recovery, but things looked brighter after he made a brief comeback for Fulham in March and earned a recall to the Wales squad. But the injuries have proved too much for Coleman, who now plans to pursue a coaching career.Send your tributes and goodwill messages to Coleman. This debate is now closed. A selection of your e-mails appear below.
An idol, a star, an all-round family guy. Who can replace this man at centre-half? I wish him luck with his coaching role, let's hope he's part of the Welsh set up in Portugal. I've lost count of how many times I've told people over the years, "he used to play for the Swans, you know." I've been proud to see one of the best defenders produced at The Vetch go on to achieve great things. All the best for your future career and you'll always be welcome on the North Bank! Thanks for a good two years down at Rovers. You and Colin Hendry were the best. I'm sorry to see you go out of the game that you played so professionally Retrospectively, it was a fitting final appearance and profound substitution when Chris Coleman replaced Robert Earnshaw in the friendly against Germany. A great servant and admirably strong fighter for Wales will be missed and always respected by Welsh fans. Good luck for the future Chris!
As a Blackburn Rovers fan I don't think we quite saw the very best of you, but I remember speaking to yourself whilst you were out injured with a ruptured Achilles and found you to be polite and down to earth. Good luck with your future career. He was a great defender and loyal to Fulham back even when they were struggling in Division Three. Loyalty and commitment are rare attributes these days and I hope he can pass down those attributes through coaching within the Fulham youth. The first big signing under the new regime was also the most inspired. Chris came to epitomise the spirit of Fulham, a natural leader, a cultured player and a great guy. I'm sure you will bring all these many qualities to your new career. Many thanks for all the great performances. Wales legend without doubt. I was lucky enough to meet Chris in Poland and he had plenty of time for us. Great player, smashing chap. Hope Sparky gives you a ring soon!
I've lost count of the times I've heard people standing near me at matches say "I can't believe it, he never makes mistakes". You are a true Fulham great and will not be forgotten. Very best of luck for the future. Fulham fans owe a huge debt of gratitude to Chris. he was the first top-level player to believe in the dream of us getting to the Premier League. I'm sure the lads will be raring to hammer Hadjuk Split to show Chris just how much he means to Fulham. A true professional like Chris is always a loss to club, country and the game of football. As he is a great leader, he will have just a successful coaching career. As a lifelong Crystal Palace fan, Chris will be remembered as one of the best central defenders we have ever had. It is such a shame that his injuries will prevent him playing top level football which is where he truly belongs. I wish him all the best for the future with Fulham, where his experience will be invaluable.
Good luck for the future, Chris. Thanks for being a loyal and reliable servant for Wales. Your ability was certainly noted and let's hope you can still go on to achieve with Wales in a coaching role. Gutted about your retirement Chris, but I just want to thank you for your immense contribution to Fulham. You were the heartbeat of the side and a brilliant leader - I never saw you have a rubbish game. You also come across as a great lad who has time for the fans and this is why you are loved by us. A natural leader. He had the sort of class you only see one or twice in a generation. Only Bobby Moore in a Fulham shirt came close to him. There is no higher accolade. Chris you were without doubt the finest tackler I've seen play. The thuds used to echo around Selhurst Park amid the cheers from the Palace fans who you know loved you playing there. Very best wishes for a successful coaching career. I'm sure that you will instil your obvious passion and values into a new breed of footballers.
Desparately sad news. In my 45 years as a Fulham supporter Chris was one of the best defenders we've had and definitely the best captain. We look forward to seeing your continued influence on the club, especially your superb attitude. Great player, great tan! All the best in which ever career path you take. Keep it real. One of a kind. A true pro, a great player, a great character - a leader and hopefully he will continue to benefit the game with his input with coaching and management. What a thought - Chris Coleman the Fulham manager leading his side out at a redeveloped Craven Cottage in the Premiership...it could happen you know!! So sorry to hear about your enforced retirement from playing. You were a fantastic player and a brilliant captain - I am sure your motivational skills will make you a first-rate coach or manager. All the best for the future. Thanks for all the great memories you have provided the fans with.
Damned shame to hear about your retirement Chris, especially after the efforts you've made to get back to full fitness. I'm sure that for all Swans fans, you'll forever be remembered as one of the most successful and talented 'Jacks' of our time. Best of luck with whatever you do in the future. Fancy doing a bit of coaching at the Vetch? Good luck Chris. We all love you. Chris, you were an absolute colossus of a player. Certainly the best central defender I ever had the privilege to see gracing the Fulham shirt over the past 35 years. You'll be sorely missed but it's great that you retain an association with the club. Very best wishes. Chris, you'll be forever remembered as a Welsh legend and lets hope that the boys can qualify for Portugal for you. I'm gutted that you're not involved in these exciting times as you've been dearly missed as the rock at the heart of our defence. Good luck mate, and take care!
I remember playing against Chris regularly when we were kids (I was with Dunvant and Three Crosses and he was North End I think!). He was always a handful to play against! As I've lived abroad for over 10 years, I have always loved anything Swansea related and have followed Chris's fortunes over the years. I was very proud to tell people he's a Swansea lad. It's wonderful to see the Fulham management looking after him. I really hope that Chris makes a name for himself now as a coach and then a manager - the Swansea boy deserves it more than many. I want to wish Chris all the best in everything he does. As a Palace fan, we all have some great memories of Chris and his partnership with Eric the Ninja. They were some good times and we were sad to see him go. A great player and a massive presence on the pitch. Players with Chris' leadership qualities don't come around very often - he will be sadly missed at Fulham. Very sad to hear of your retirement, Chris. At your comeback reserve game at Woking we were full of hope, but knew even then that there was a long way for you to go. You've been an exceptional player and a brilliant captain, and we've got a lot to thank you for.
My two favourite memories in particular - the 4mph goal against Gillingham in the Division Two promotion clincher and the goal at Preston earlier that season to put us top. And I'm sure David Ginola won't forget your "welcome" in that Worthington cup game a few years back. All the best Chris, and we hope to see you at Fulham for years to come. I'm sure I speak for all Blackburn Rovers fans when I wish you all the best for the future. Thanks for everything you did for us Thank you very much Chris. You've been an excellent servant to Welsh football and to every club you've played at. You've been my favourite Wales player for as long as I can remember, and it did come as a shock for me to hear that you were calling it a day. Nevertheless, as a Welshman and a Palace fan, may I wish you the very best of luck for your coaching career - I'm sure it'll be successful. I'm 16 and a very keen footballer. About two years ago I injured myself and it took me a long time to recover back to full fitness. But whilst I was recovering I heard about your accident and how you were recovering. You were my inspiration to get back to playing football. I wanted to quit at one time but I used you as a role model. Thank you so much. Good luck for the future.
We all know that you played a major role in returning Fulham to the top flight, and will now be contributing towards future glory. Best of luck Captain Cookie! Give us a wave at 'The New Cottage'. As a lifelong Fulham fan, the signing of Coleman was the first indication that Fayed was serious about getting us to the top. And without Coleman taking the risk of dropping two divisions, I doubt whether we would have got this far. So for leading us out of the wilderness of Division Two, all Fulham fans will be eternally grateful. Thanks for the work you have done for us at the Cottage, leading us to two promotions. All the best in the future, and I hope you take up a role with Fulham as a coach. Sorry to hear the bad news. I was looking forward to you making a comeback and already had you pencilled in to be transferred into my dream team. Keep your chin up, and make sure you enjoy whatever the future holds for you. Totally gutted for Chris. He will be missed not only by Fulham, but also by many of the supporters of the other clubs he has played for - as well as his country.
The first Welsh international I went to was against Albania in Euro 96 qualifying. Wales won 2-0 and Chris grabbed one of the goals. I was really impressed by his performance in that game, and have always thought of him as one the best defenders in the country. He was extremely underrated and very loyal in a time full of money grabbers. Cheers for the memories Chris, and good luck for the future. I'm just glad I was able to see the start of Chris' career. It was clear from very early on that he was going to be class. It's just a shame that it had to end like this. All the best Chrissy. Sorry to hear you have finally had to give up the fight. It was always a pleasure to watch you play. Even though I have lived in Barbados for 14 years I am still a season ticket holder at Fulham and have managed to see a fair number of games each season. I have supported Fulham for 40 years now and certainly rank you amongst the best that have donned the colours. All the best in your future endeavours. As a Wednesday fan I've not had the good fortune to follow much of your career, but suffice to say if we had players at our club with the same level of determination you have shown in the last 18 months we would be in a lot better position. I wish you all the best in your future career - any chance of coaching our lot at Hillsborough!
Chris was a good servant to club and country, and he didn't deserve to end his career this way. I wish him all the luck in the world in his coaching post. Very sorry to hear the news, but I'm sure a talented player like Chris will make his mark in coaching. Best Wishes for the future from a fellow Jack. I feel really sorry for Chris. He was a really good defender for Fulham and Wales, and I'm sure he will be missed. All the best to him in the future, from a Grimsby Town fan. Thanks for you career Chris. I enjoyed watching you perform down at Ewood during your Blackburn days. I played with Chris at schoolboy level. We all thought he would make it big and he did. Not only is he a great footballer but a great guy as well. He will make a better coach than I ever did. Being a Swansea boy and having seen him come on for five minutes at the end of a recent Welsh International, it is now a very sad thing to hear that Chris has been forced to hang up his boots. While feeling his loss as a player for Wales, I truly wish him every success in his coaching roles. His example as a calm leader in the face of many Premiership and international storms will only hold him in good stead as he attempts to pass on his knowledge to others.
I'd like to pay tribute to Fulham for their continued investment in a valuable coach, and thank them and their fans for the wonderful support shown to Chris over the last year and a half. Pob lwc i'r dyfodol Chris! As a Fulham supporter living in Russia I heard today's news of Chris Coleman's retirement with great sadness. He has done a magnificent job for Fulham, and is a born leader and motivator. I hope he stays with us to lead us on to greater things. My best wishes to a brave and courageous player. Good luck in whatever you do in the future. You probably won't get the recognition you deserve, but remember that when you come down for all the Welsh internationals there will always be thousands of fans there waiting to buy you a pint to say thanks! All the best. You've come a long way since Bishop Vaughan mate, and are a true Jack. You've done your home town and country proud. Good luck, and I hope to see you down the Vetch as manager in a few years. I was very sorry to hear of Coleman's retirement. He was a great servant to his country and I wish him all the best as he pursues a career in coaching. Just want to sound my commiserations to Chris - he was a fantastic player! I never really thought he would return, but now it has happened I am shocked. Goodbye to a great Fulham player. We'll never forget you Chris! It's a shame that this has come, as Chris was a great defender. I remember when our club Coventry were after him, and I was gutted we missed out on him. I wish him well for the future and hope he enjoys his coaching role. |
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