Where are they now? The last Wales side to play Austria at the Liberty Stadium

Back in February 2013, 8,202 Wales fans turned out at the Liberty Stadium to their national team in transition, as they faced Austria.

Chris Coleman had the challenging task of succeeding Speed, and a 2-1 victory over Austria showed signs of improvement, despite missing out on qualifying for the 2014 World Cup. 

As the fixture was set to be repeated at the Liberty Stadium in preparation for Euro 2020 until the coronavirus outbreak, we take a look at Wales’ XI in the 2013 fixture and where they are now. 

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Boaz Myhill

Myhill’s start against Austria was one of 19 caps he made in a Wales shirt, retiring just one year later. In 2013, the shot-stopper was plying his trade for West Bromwich Albion, for whom he signed from Hull City in 2010. After nine years at the Baggies, Myhill retired from professional football in 2019, becoming the club’s Development Goalkeeper Coach. 

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Adam Matthews

Defender Adam Matthews was an exciting prospect for Wales fans in 2013, following in Joe Ledley’s footsteps in signing for Celtic from Cardiff City back in 2011.

Despite making 101 appearances for the Hoops, including European fixtures against the likes of Atletico Madrid and Udinese, Matthews signed for Sunderland in July 2015 for a fee of £2 million.

A change of manager in the form of David Moyes saw Matthews shipped out on loan to Bristol City in the season that the Black Cats were relegated to the Championship.

Matthews featured more regularly as Sunderland dropped to League One, but signed for Charlton Athletic in the summer of 2019, where he has impressed this season. 

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Sam Ricketts

Arguably an unsung hero in a Wales shirt, Sam Ricketts made 52 appearances for Wales, making his debut in 2005. After spells at Swansea City, Hull City and Bolton Wanderers, Ricketts joined Wolverhampton Wanderers in the same year as the 2-1 victory over Austria.

The defender finished his career at Coventry City, making a career total of 495 appearances, but has grown in name on the managerial scene in the last two years.

As Wrexham missed out on the play-offs in the 2017-18 season, Sam Ricketts filled the void left by Dean Keates, who left for Walsall. Ricketts had a very successful start to his managerial career but controversially left for rivals Shrewsbury Town, where he has also enjoyed success, sharing the touchline with Jurgen Klopp in the FA Cup this season. 

Ashley Williams

Back in 2013, no Welsh fan would have believed what Ashley Williams has gone on to achieve in a Wales shirt. Coleman made the bold decision in October 2012 to replace Aaron Ramsey as captain with Ashley Williams in what turned out to be a masterstroke.

Williams was at Swansea City in 2013, but left for Everton three years later after the success of Euro 2016, scoring in equaliser in the quarter-final win over Belgium.

After failing to cement a starting place at Goodison Park, Williams joined Championship strugglers Stoke City on loan, before joining Bristol City on a permanent deal in August 2019. His performances for Lee Johnson’s side brought him into the debate for Euro 2020 selection.

Ben Davies

After making his debut for Wales in 2012 in the 2-1 win over Scotland, Ben Davies was a regular for Swansea City in 2013, as their refreshing brand of football took the Premier League by storm. His performances for the Swans earned him a move to Tottenham Hostpur, where he has featured regularly since 2014. Davies’ international career has also blossomed, as he will be remembered for his block to deny Marek Hamsik in the Euro 2016 opener and is now a key part of Ryan Giggs’ Wales team.

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Joe Ledley

Another player who went on to star for Wales in Euro 2016, Joe Ledley featured regularly for Celtic in 2013, winning the league four times during his time in Scotland.

After signing for Crystal Palace in 2014, Ledley became a key part of Wales’ side, forming a strong midfield partnership with Joe Allen.

After three years at Crystal Palace, Ledley joined Derby County, where he had an indifferent spell.

After making just one appearance for Charlton Athletic this season, Ledley now plies his trade for Newcastle Jets in Australia, for whom he signed in February 2020. 

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David Vaughan

One of the more experienced figures in the 2013 side, David Vaughan was at Sunderland at the time of the victory over Austria.

The midfielder went on to make a total of 42 caps for Wales and was selected in the Euro 2016 squad despite not playing a minute in the tournament.

Vaughan retired from international football in July 2016, when he played for Nottingham Forest, before joining Notts County in 2018.

Now without a club at 37 years of age, Vaughan’s retirement beckons, but could be an exciting high-profile signing for a JD Cymru Premier club. 

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Jack Collison

A view that is certainly shared by many a Wales fan is that Jack Collison would have made far more than 15 appearances had is not been for injuries.

In 2013, Collison was at West Ham United and was always regarded as a talented, goal-scoring midfielder.

After spells at Bournemouth, Wigan Athletic, Ipswich Town and Peterborough United, Collison’s career was halted by injury in 2016, forcing him into early retirement at the age of 27.

In his short managerial career, Collison has been a coach at Peterborough U21’s, Peterborough U18’s, West Ham United U16’s, before joining MLS side Atlanta United as a coach in June 2019. 

Joe Allen

In 2013, Joe Allen was in his first season for Liverpool, following manager Brendan Rodgers from Swansea City. Since then, Allen has grown into arguably Wales’ most important player and was another in the XI to face Austria who excelled at Euro 2016.

After four years at Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp deemed Allen surplus to requirements, allowing him to join Stoke City, where he has made 153 appearances, scoring 18 goals.

Another common view of Wales fans is that Allen is capable of playing in the Premier League, meaning that a summer move to the top flight could be beckoning. 

Gareth Bale

In the seven years separating the two fixtures at the Liberty Stadium between Wales and Austria, the constant factor is that Gareth Bale was and remains Wales’ best player.

In 2013, Bale was at the peak of his powers in his final season for Tottenham Hostpur, earning the PFA Young Player of the Year and PFA Player of the Year in the same season.

As a result, Bale joined Real Madrid, where he has four Champions League medals to his name. After falling out of favour under Zinedine Zidane, Bale’s next move is unknown but remains a player of paramount importance to the national team. 

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Craig Bellamy

2013 was Craig Bellamy’s final year with Wales, as he made a total of 78 appearances, scoring 19 goals.

After successful spells at the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City and Newcastle, Bellamy retired from professional football in 2014, becoming Cardiff City’s academy coach.

In 2016, he was appointed Cardiff’s player development manager, and looked set to become manager of Oxford United in 2018, before withdrawing his application when the club were taken over.

Bellamy left Cardiff City in January 2019 and is now a coach at Anderlecht, under manager Vincent Kompany. 

Substitutes:

Andy King

A loyal servant to Wales’ national team, King is another who has gone on to have a successful career, making 50 caps for his country and playing his part in Leicester City’s fairytale triumph of the Premier League.

After loan spells at Swansea City, Derby County and Rangers, King is how on loan at the Cowley brothers’ Huddersfield Town.

Sam Vokes

Much like Robson-Kanu, Sam Vokes will be remembered by Wales fans for his goal in the Euro 2016 quarter-final against Belgium, but since 2013, has also gone on to score regularly for Burnley, before moving to Stoke City, for whom he now plays in the Championship.

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Hal Robson-Kanu

Like many in Coleman’s squad to face Austria in 2013, Hal Robson-Kanu went on to have a successful Wales career, most notably scoring the winner in Euro 2016’s opener against Slovakia and the Goal of the Tournament against Belgium.

Robson-Kanu has since come out of international retirement and has made himself available to Ryan Giggs after an impressive season for West Bromwich Albion.

Chris Gunter

In 2013, Gunter was in his first season at Reading, for whom he still plays. Gunter has gone on to have a glittering international career and is now Wales’ most capped player of all time.

He will undoubtedly be remembered for his exquisite cross for Sam Vokes’ goal in the 3-1 quarter-final victory over Belgium at Euro 2016.

Simon Church

Having gone on to make a total of 38 appearances for Wales, Simon Church earned himself a place on the plane to Euro 2016 with a successful loan at Aberdeen, scoring on his debut in a 2-1 win over Celtic.

However, in a similar vein to Jack Collison, Church retired in May 2018 due to a hip injury he suffered at his final club, Plymouth Argyle.

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(Featured Image: © Copyright Chris Andrews and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.)