Steph Houghton, the captain of Manchester City and former England star, will be retiring at the end of the season.

Steph Houghton, the former captain of the England women’s football team, has made the decision to retire from the sport at the end of the current Women’s Super League (WSL) season. The 35-year-old has had an illustrious career, earning 121 caps for her country and leading the Lionesses to a third-place finish at the 2015 World Cup.

Houghton, who currently plays for Manchester City, has enjoyed tremendous success throughout her career. She has lifted three WSL titles and has the opportunity to secure a fourth, with City currently sitting just behind league leaders Chelsea on goal difference.

In a statement, Houghton expressed the difficulty of making the decision to retire, acknowledging that age catches up with every player.

Having started her career at Sunderland, Houghton went on to play for Leeds and Arsenal before joining Manchester City in 2014. With Arsenal, she won seven major trophies, including consecutive WSL titles in 2011 and 2012, two FA Cups, and three League Cups. Since joining City, Houghton has made nearly 150 appearances for the club, adding another WSL title in 2016, as well as three more FA Cups and four League Cups to her collection.

Houghton’s international career has been equally impressive. She made her debut for England in 2007 and was named captain of the Lionesses in 2014. Under her leadership, England reached the semi-finals of the World Cup for the first time in 2015, ultimately finishing in third place. She reached the milestone of 100 international appearances in 2018 and also represented Great Britain at the 2012 and 2020 Olympics.

Unfortunately, injuries have plagued the latter part of Houghton’s career. She was not selected for the England squad that won the 2022 Euros under manager Sarina Wiegman and has not played for the national team since 2021. However, Houghton still has the opportunity to end her career on a high note, with Manchester City currently level on points with Chelsea at the top of the WSL with five games remaining.

Gareth Taylor, the head coach of Manchester City, paid tribute to Houghton, describing her as an icon of the game. He acknowledged her significant contributions to football and expressed his gratitude for the privilege of working with her. Taylor believes that Houghton’s legacy will be felt for many years to come and that she has paved the way for future generations to thrive in the sport.

As Houghton prepares to hang up her boots, she can be proud of the impact she has made on women’s football in England. Her leadership, hard work, talent, and dedication have left a lasting impression, and her name will undoubtedly be written into the history books as one of the greats of the game. The footballing world wishes her all the best for the future.