#2 Ashley Williams
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Having signed for a League One Swansea City side initially on loan in March 2008, Williams played a pivotal role in the steady ascent of the Welsh club up the English football ladder over years.
Having played under Roberto Martinez, Paulo Sousa, Brendan Rodgers, Michael Laudrup, Garry Monk and Francesco Guidolin for Swansea, the Wales captain was a key player for each one of these managers.
Officially handed the armband when Garry Monk stepped down in July 2013, Williams had already been a leader by nature and a respected voice in the dressing room. Brendan Rodgers rated him so highly that he openly challenged the Liverpool owners' decision not to sign them.
Captaining Wales to a historic 3-1 win over Belgium to lead them into the semifinals presented perhaps the best moment till date of Ashley Williams' career. The struggles Swansea have faced since his departure, and the immediate impact he has made at Everton, continues to raise the profile of the player into his thirties.
