Former England captain Houghton to retire

Steph Houghton has played for England on 121 occasions and during her career she has played for Sunderland, Leeds, Arsenal and Manchester City at club level.

Steph Houghton, a defender from Manchester City and a previous captain of the England national team, has declared that she will be ending her career after the current season of the Women's Super League comes to a close.

Houghton, who is 35 years old, holds the record for the most appearances with City and is included in the team that has the potential to win the WSL championship this season.

Houghton has represented England on 121 occasions, however, she has not made an appearance for her country since the year 2021.

Houghton expressed his desire to have made positive changes to the game since he began his journey with Sunderland in 2002, with the hope of leaving it in a better state than he found it in.

"I aspire to have played a small role in paving the way for young girls to enjoy a brighter future in the world of football."

Houghton, who plays centre-back, was with Sunderland for five years and then played three years at Leeds and Arsenal. After that, he became a part of City in 2014.

She began playing for England in March 2007 when she faced Russia for the first time. Since then, she has represented her team in two World Cups and two European Championships.

Houghton took part in Team GB for both London 2012 and Tokyo 2020 as well.

Houghton, who was recognized with an MBE in 2016 for her accomplishments in women's football, expressed that making the choice to retire can be a challenging task.

As a player, everyone eventually feels the effects of aging, but it doesn't make it any less difficult to express it. Football has been my life, my one true love and I've cherished the moments and experiences that my career has given me.

The female lions wrote a message on X platform saying, "We hope everything goes well for you in your retirement."

Your leadership of the Lionesses and contributions to the growth of women's soccer will always be remembered.

According to Wiegman, Houghton deserves abundant recognition for her exceptional career.

She mentioned that the woman has been a great source of motivation for numerous aspiring girls who wish to tread a similar path.

I hope that she excels in whatever she decides to do next and I am excited to have the opportunity to commemorate her accomplishments during one of our upcoming matches later in the year.

Houghton: The Icon Of Football

The FA's head of women's football, Baroness Sue Campbell, stated that the influence of Houghton on female sports is not just limited to football but also extends to other sports.

"She has been the perfect example of a person to look up to," she stated.

Some young girls might have watched Steph play with skill, resolve, and honesty and thought to themselves: "I want to be like Steph Houghton." So, I would like to take a moment to express my gratitude to Steph and, on behalf of the FA, to thank her for all of her contributions both on and off the field.

We were fortunate enough to have her involved in women's sports and I hope her retirement is filled with happiness and success.

Houghton is the player who has played the most games for City, with a total of 241 games. She is also their most successful player, having won eight significant trophies throughout her career. This includes four Continental Cups, three Women's FA Cups, and the FA Women's Super League title in 2016.

In addition, she clinched two WSL championships during her time with Arsenal in the years 2011 and 2012. Moreover, she assisted in securing five cup triumphs for the team commonly referred to as the Gunners.

According to the coach of City, Gareth Taylor, Steph is undoubtedly an icon in the sport.

Even though she's retiring from playing professional sports soon, her impact will last for many years to come.

"She has opened doors for countless individuals to prosper in the times to come."

In June 2023, City's captain Houghton agreed to a fresh contract that will extend her stay at the club by one year. She will be with the team for a decade before she retires from playing professionally.

Taylor expressed how fortunate he feels to have collaborated with her since 2020 and acknowledged that her name will be recorded in the football history as a genuine and outstanding player.

City and Chelsea are tied at the top of the Women's Super League standings, with only five games left to play before the season ends on May 18th. City's final match will be against Aston Villa.

Houghton, who is the spouse of former Liverpool defender Stephen Darby, enthusiastically stated that she is looking forward to upcoming events. This week, she aided her husband in a 178-mile walk for individuals with motor neurone disease.

For now, I am concentrating on putting all my effort into Manchester City for the next two months.