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Man Metropolis & Lionesses legend Steph Houghton publicizes retirement from soccer

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Manchester Metropolis and former England defender Steph Houghton has introduced that she is going to retire from soccer on the finish of the season.

Houghton has made a membership document 241 appearances for Metropolis since becoming a member of in 2014 forward of the staff’s inaugural skilled season. She had beforehand starred for Arsenal and Leeds after beginning her profession at Sunderland.

The centre-back performed 121 instances for England between 2007 and 2021, captaining the Lionesses at watershed World Cups in 2015 and 2019 during which the staff reached the semi-finals each instances.

Houghton will shortly flip 36 however has seen the previous few years of her profession hampered by irritating accidents, finally main the curtailment of her worldwide profession within the build-up to Euro 2022.

In a press release printed on social media, Houghton described it as a “privilege” to play for Sunderland, Leeds and Arsenal, earlier than acknowledging the “unbelievable journey” at Metropolis.

“I hope that I depart the sport in a greater place then once I began,” she mentioned, “…and that I’ve contributed in some small solution to giving the women of tomorrow a greater future in soccer.”

Steph Houghton

Houghton captained England throughout a vital interval of growth / Richard Heathcote/GettyImages

Metropolis boss Gareth Taylor informed the membership’s official web site: “Steph is – with out query – an icon of the sport. Though her skilled profession on the pitch is now coming to an finish, her legacy will likely be felt for thus a few years to come back. She’s paved the best way for thus many to thrive sooner or later. 

“Steph has lived and breathed soccer for such a very long time, and she or he leaves it within the strongest place it has ever been – a real testomony to her management, exhausting work, expertise, and dedication. I really feel extremely privileged to have been capable of work together with her since 2020 and know her identify will likely be written into the historical past books as a real footballing nice.”

Houghton gained the WSL twice with Arsenal in 2011 and 2012, earlier than touchdown a 3rd title with Manchester Metropolis in 2016. She additionally gained 5 FA Cups and 7 league cups. With Metropolis locked in a WSL title race with Chelsea, her remaining season might but finish on the last word excessive.

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