Ben Foster has ended his Wrexham contract by retiring from professional football at the age of 40.
The goalkeeper had previously hung up his gloves last September, but came out of retirement to join the Welsh side last March and made 12 appearances for the club, as he helped guide them back into the football league.
He penned a new one-year deal with the club in June, but his retirement means the final 10 months will go unfulfilled.
In a statement announcing his retirement, Foster said: ‘The honest truth is that my performances this season haven’t reached the level I demand of myself and I feel that now is the right time to retire.’
‘At the forefront of my mind when making this decision, was not only what was best for me but also the Club, and making the decision now gives the Club every opportunity to assess their options before the window closes.
‘Wrexham will always have a special place in my heart.’
It comes two days after Wrexham conceded five goals in a thrilling draw with Swindon, which left them as the top scoring and conceding side in League two.
In all, Foster won six of his 12 games at Wrexham, with four draws and two losses.
He kept just two clean sheets in that time, but did make a season-defining penalty save in injury time against Notts County last season that helped clinch the National League title.
Manager Phil Parkinson said of his departure: ‘Ben has been the model professional while at Wrexham and has done everything we have asked of him.
‘It takes a big person to make the decision he has and one who really understands this Football Club, with the timing of his decision.
‘I am sure I speak for everyone, when thanking him for his contribution that went far beyond that one magnificent penalty save against Notts County to help us gain promotion last season.
‘Wrexham AFC was a better place for having Ben Foster around the Club.’
Aside from his heroics at Wrexham, Foster retires as the 10th most capped goalkeeper in Premier League history after a stellar career with Manchester United, West Brom, Watford and Birmingham City.
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