The ex-Wales and Premier League star underwent a curious career pivot
Former Wales star Sam Ricketts walked away from football to pursue a career in construction. Ricketts, now 44, played 103 games for Swansea City and earned 52 caps for Wales.
Sam Ricketts’ tenure at Swansea City from 2004 to 2006 marked a meteoric rise from non-league football to the international stage following his free transfer from the defunct Telford United. He became an immediate fixture in Kenny Jackett’s side, earning a place in the PFA League Two Team of the Year and helping the club secure promotion during their emotional final season at the Vetch Field.
During his second year, Ricketts was instrumental in Swansea’s transition to the Liberty Stadium and their 2-1 victory over Carlisle United in the Football League Trophy final at the Millennium Stadium. Although his time in South Wales ended after a heartbreaking play-off final defeat in 2006, his 103 appearances paved the way for a successful career in the higher divisions and the Premier League.
He went on to play a pivotal role in Hull City’s remarkable promotion to the Premier League in 2008/09 with the Tigers once more on the brink of the top flight this season, with the play-off final just days away.
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Following his departure from Hull, Ricketts, turned out for Bolton in the Premier League, Wolves, Swindon Town and Coventry. Managerial spells with Wrexham and Shrewsbury Town came next.
After departing Shrewsbury in November 2020, the former right-back embarked on a fresh chapter as a construction merchant, stepping away from the game. He revealed in 2021: “I’m done at the minute – I’ve opened a builder’s merchants instead.
“I’ll do that for a couple of years and pick and choose what I do in football. I don’t want to move, stay away from home five nights a week, that’s just me.”
Although he was born in England, Ricketts was eligible to feature for Wales due to his grandmother being Welsh. However, Ricketts will forever be associated with the Tigers’ historic season and promotion under former manager Phil Brown.
The side rose from 18th in early October to second by mid-April. The former defender has warm recollections of that memorable campaign, even drawing parallels with Leicester City’s remarkable Premier League title success in 2016.
“We didn’t come into that season wanting to get promoted,” said Ricketts in 2018. “I’m not sure that was the aim for anyone. But we gradually built as the season went on and improved as a team.
“We had good players who worked incredibly hard for each other. Everyone bought into what we were trying to do. The team was full of players who had never been in the Premier League before, so once all those eyes were fixed on the possibility of winning promotion, it galvanised everyone.
“It was a bit like when Leicester won the Premier League. They never thought they were going to win the Premier League at the start of that season, but I will guarantee you that for the last few months of that season, they ate, slept and breathed those possibilities. That was us in 2008.”
Ricketts called time on the game in 2016 following injury concerns. In a statement, he revealed how he was going to gain his coaching badges with the Welsh FA: “Today, I am announcing my decision to retire from the game after having received medical advice that I should stop playing with immediate effect due to injury.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has helped me to fulfil every boy’s dream of becoming a professional footballer. I am grateful to all of the managers, coaches and teammates that I have had the honour of working with and learning from throughout my career.
“I would also like to express my gratitude to the brilliant supporters of the clubs I have played at for always offering me their wholehearted support.
“It has been a fantastic journey and one which has provided me with so many unbelievable experiences and memories. As my playing career comes to an end, I am now looking forward to embarking on a new chapter.
“A few years ago, I started working towards my coaching badges and am currently in the process of completing my UEFA A Licence with the Welsh FA. I am excited about the challenges that lie ahead and now hope to be able to give something back to a game which has given me so much.”
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