Canberra United player of the year Lydia Williams will sacrifice an opportunity to chase back-to-back W-League titles to ensure the longevity of her international career.
United coach Jitka Klimkova will begin an immediate global search to replace her ''rockstar'' goalkeeper after returning to the Czech Republic yesterday.
Williams played through the pain of torn ligaments in her left wrist for the last two months of Canberra's triumphant campaign, which finished with a 3-2 victory over Brisbane Roar in the grand final last weekend.
She needs to have surgery to pin the ligaments down, but Williams will join Swedish club Pitea IF before going under the knife. Her playing commitments with Pitea were always expected to rule her out for at least the first three rounds of United's championship defence. But after talking with Canberra coach Klimkova and Matildas mentor Tom Sermanni, Williams decided to undergo surgery when she arrived back in Australia. The operation could sideline her for up to five months.
Williams will leave Canberra in March to start her contract in Sweden.
''I first did it [injury] at training [in December] when the girls were taking shots, and it's one of the main supporting ligaments in the wrist,'' Williams, who is the Matildas first-choice goalkeeper, said.
''It's devastating after the season we've had... I'm not sure about everything at the moment but I will most likely do what's best for my international career.
''I don't know of the recovery period at the moment, it just depends on the surgery. The Matildas will have Asian Cup qualifiers in 2014 and not much this year or next year so the focus is to get [the surgery] done now.''
Just three days after guiding United to its grand final victory, Klimkova left Canberra yesterday. American import Taryn Hemmings also flew home.
United's back-up keeper Aroon Clansey is one option to replace Williams between the posts. But Klimkova will scour Europe and the United States to try to find a player capable of filling Williams's shoes.
''I absolutely understand the priority with the national team [the Matildas] so we will have to look for another goalkeeper,'' Klimkova said.
''It's pretty sad because she was our rockstar in the goals, but health is the highest priority and I'm sure she will come back when she's ready. We haven't really thought about who can come in but we will look overseas while I am there.''
Despite still waiting for Capital Football chief executive Heather Reid to finalise the details of her coaching contract, Klimkova is committed to return to Canberra.
She has already given her players an off-season program to follow and will arrive back in Canberra in September to begin W-League pre-season training.
Klimkova led Canberra through an undefeated season in her first year in charge.
''One part of me can't wait to see my family, but the other part is sad because I'm leaving my football family,'' Klimkova said.
''I can't believe how quick everything went... it feels like I just came and now I'm leaving. I will be back, Heather has some work to do, but I trust her and I am pretty confident it will all be done when I get back.''
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