Former All White and current Newcastle Jets goalkeeper Glen Moss has announced he will fully retire from professional football at the end of the 2019/20 Hyundai A-League season.

Moss started his professional career in the now-defunct National Soccer League (NSL) with Sydney Olympic, before joining the New Zealand Knights for the inaugural season of the A-League in 2005/06.

Moss has made 249 A-League appearances for five different clubs during his career and also earned 29 caps for the All Whites, including helping to secure the nation’s first point in a senior FIFA tournament with a scoreless draw against Iraq at the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa.

He picked up an untimely suspension on the qualification path to the 2010 FIFA World Cup and was included in the squad for the tournament but didn’t feature as Mark Paston played a starring role.

He recorded eight clean sheets during his time between the sticks for the All Whites before retiring from international duty in early 2018.

His last involvement in an All Whites squad was for the FIFA World Cup qualifying intercontinental play-off against Peru in November of 2017. 

“My body is getting to a stage where it won’t allow me to train at the level I feel like I need to be at and that’s what’s prompted me to pull stumps at the end of the season,” Moss said.

“I’ve made this decision early and informed the club so they have enough time to plan for next season, and I’ll do everything I can to help Lewis Italiano and Noah James show they are deserving of contracts,” the 37-year-old added.

“I’m extremely proud of the career I’ve had in football across nearly 20 years, and there’s no place I’d rather finish than here in Newcastle. While the wins and losses come and go, the friendships I’ve made will last a lifetime.

“I’m so fortunate to have found a mentor in Lawrie McKinna and, along with the support of Professional Footballers’ Australia (PFA), I’m able to confidently transition into the next stage of my life.

“I have a real passion for coaching and I’m excited at the opportunity to pass on my knowledge, through the experiences I’ve had both internationally and in the Hyundai A-League.”

Newcastle Jets CEO Lawrie McKinna paid tribute to the goalkeeper.

“Mossy is a top professional and a top person who will give his all until the end of the season,” McKinna said.

“Since arriving in mid-2017, he’s been an outstanding representative of our club and for the city of Newcastle, both on and off the park. We’re looking forward to seeing Mossy recover from his injury and get back in action for the remainder of the season.”

Article added: Thursday 30 January 2020