Ben Foster's Wrexham retirement decision explained as Ryan Reynolds hails 'generosity'

Former Manchester United and Wrexham goalkeeper Ben Foster stunned supporters when he announced his retirement merely four games into the Red Dragons' EFL season.

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, the club's Hollywood owners, were keen for Foster to stay following his key role in promoting Wrexham from the National League. Despite their desires, Foster only played 360 minutes before deciding to hang up his boots.

The team had a difficult start to their first EFL season in over a decade and a half, with Foster surrendering 14 goals within just a handful of minutes. The ex-United and England 'keeper initially unretired to aid in Wrexham's mission for the National League title.

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He became an instant legend when they triumphed over Notts County for the title. However, after realising he was not performing at the necessary standard, Foster chose to conclude his career once more.

In the freshly released third season of Welcome to Wrexham, Reynolds expressed his profound admiration for Foster, terming his action as "generous" since it eventually led to their successive promotions and confirmed their slot in League One. "I thought it was generous. Like, it was an incredibly generous thing to do," Reynolds admitted in the second episode.

"So few people know when to call it, you know. I have an immense amount of respect for Ben and who he is as a player and a person. He's a huge reason we're here in the EFL."

The reality hit home for Foster during a match against Swindon Town on August 19, 2023, where he let in four first-half goals resulting in Wrexham lagging with a 4-1 score at half time. However, the team managed an impressive comeback securing a 5-5 draw after two last-minute goals, but it was then that Foster realised his career had reached its end.

Even though the game ended in a draw which felt like a victory for Wrexham, for Foster, he knew it was his curtain call in professional football. "Even though we'd drawn, the lads were quiet and they weren't happy because they knew something was wrong," Foster said on Welcome to Wrexham.

"They knew that the performance wasn't what it should be. And this might sound selfish but I was thinking just about my own circumstance at that moment in time because, I knew enough was enough, and I knew I was done.

"And I was thinking about how to tell the manager, how to tell the coaching staff. And I was just thinking: 'What shall I do? Shall I do it now? Shall I ring somebody tomorrow? Shall I tell them on Monday?'

"I thought: 'No, I'm just gonna go tell them.' Went into the coaches room and I said: 'That's me done lads. That's me done. I'm letting you down. I'm not up to speed. I'm not what I thought I am. And I don't want to keep letting you down.'"

Although Foster's abrupt decision surprised many at the time, club insiders felt it was for the best. Speaking about this matter, Shaun Harvey, a Wrexham advisor, commented: "From Ben's perspective, I think it was just the dawn of reality that he was getting older.

"To be honest, it was the right decision for Ben. And in reality, it was the right decision for Wrexham as well."

Foster's call came in August allowing the club plenty of time to scout for an adequate replacement before the closure of the summer transfer window on September 1. In their choice, Wrexham went from seasoned experience to youthful promise, signing up Arsenal's 'keeper Arthur Okonkwo on loan.

Okonkwo, 22, had a commendable run with Wrexham in League Two last season, playing in 35 matches and significantly contributing to the team's push for promotion. He kept 14 clean sheets and let in a mere 30 goals throughout the season, ending with the second-best goals conceded per minute record (107).

You can catch up with season one of Welcome to Wrexham on Disney+, with streaming options available via their app, online and smart TV. A subscription costs £7.99 per month in the UK while international viewers can watch it on FX via Hulu with plans starting at $7.99.