Legendary Charlton Athletic player Chris Solly has declared he would retire from football after his contract with Ebbsfleet United expires.
Over the years, Charlton Athletic has had a number of young players go through its academy system; Chris Solly was one of those players who graduated before breaking into the main squad.
During his tenure at The Valley, the full-back made an incredible 313 appearances for the Addicks and held the position of club captain. In the 2011–12 and 2012–13 seasons, Solly was named player of the year twice in a row and was instrumental in leading his team back to the Championship.
Since winter 2020, Solly has been a member of the non-league team Ebbsfleet United; however, he has since declared that he will be hanging up his boots.
As his contract with the Fleet comes to an end, the former Charlton Athletic player has stated on X that he will be retiring from professional football. He announces his decision at the age of 33, but it appears he won’t be quitting the game entirely because he plans to switch to coaching.
⚽️❤️ pic.twitter.com/9D8Sy1aoOd
— chris solly (@cjsolly) April 29, 2024
Over his career, Solly only played for two clubs: Charlton Athletic and Ebbsfleet. He helped Ebbsfleet achieve promotion from the National League South, and he played most of his time with the Addicks in the Championship and League One.
A fondly remembered Charlton Athletic player
Solly, a player who rose through the youth levels to establish himself as a staple in Charlton Athletic’s first team, will always be cherished in The Valley as a contemporary icon. He served the Addicks with loyalty, and his contributions to a number of significant events will never be forgotten.
It will be interesting to watch where he ends up when he moves on to the next phase of his football career.
On top of his extensive experience in EFL and non-league football, Solly’s leadership qualities for the majority of his playing career should help him as he gets ready to become a coach.
Maybe a future trip back to The Valley isn’t out of the question, since former team Charlton has given coaching opportunities to players like Jason Pearce and Johnnie Jackson.
Whenever Solly graces The Valley again, South London will welcome him back with open arms, whether as a coach or just a fan.