Matildas great and First Nations football pioneer Lydia Williams has announced her retirement after close to two decades in the professional arena.
Williams began her senior career with Canberra United in 2008, going on to lift four A League titles - her first in the capital before a trio with Melbourne City.
The Noongar woman had already debuted with the national team as a teenager prior to beginning her A-League career, going on to feature at five World Cups and two Olympic Games across 104 caps in green and gold.
Her career included moves to the US, Sweden and time spent with European juggernauts Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain.
Williams returned to Australia with the Melbourne Victory ahead of the 2023-24 season.
"It's been a wonderful 23 years of playing professionally, both overseas and at home in Australia, and I've enjoyed every single minute of it - the good, the bad, the exciting, the not so exciting," Williams said in a video posted to social media on Thursday.
"I've made some wonderful friends along the way. I've experienced so many different things around the world, and I don't regret anything.
"It's not the last time you'll see me on a football pitch, but probably the last time I'll be in boots.
"I'll be around the traps every now and then. But I do want to say a huge shout out to the Victory, the sponsors and especially the fans."
The veteran was the fourth Indigenous woman to represent the Matildas.
On announcing her coming retirement from international football, 75,000 fans bidded farewell and celebrated the champion goalkeeper at a friendly fixture against China in June.
Ahead of the starting whistle, tennis great Evonne Goolagong Cawley presented Williams with a Booka - a traditional Noongar kangaroo skin cloak - in a nod to her journey and long standing career.
Williams was not selected for the Matildas Olympic side to compete in Paris.
She made 11 appearances for the Victory before a wrist injury saw her miss the entirety of the most recent season.
"Through her time playing in Australia and overseas, Lydia has been an inspirational player that has motivated the next generation of goalkeepers to want to play the game, but she has been just as important off the field," Victory coach Jeff Hopkins said.
"Lydia has been one of the players of her generation that has stood up for the rights and conditions afforded to female footballers as the game moves steadily forward as a professional sport."
Victory director of football John Didulica labelled Williams a "a trailblazer" for the women's game.
Earlier this year, Williams became the youngest, and second Indigenous person elected to the Australian Sports Commission board.
