Steph Houghton: Man City Women’s star and ex England captain announces retirement
Manchester City Women's star Steph Houghton has announced she will retire from football at the end of the season.
Houghton brings an end to a stellar playing career spanning 22 years, which has seen her also represent Arsenal, Leeds Carnegie, Sunderland and the England national team.
She leaves the game having won 16 trophies at club level.
The 35-year-old defender won 121 caps for the Lionesses, representing them at the Women's Euro 2015 and Euro 2017 as well as at the 2015 Women's World Cup, where England came third and at the 2019 tournament.
Injury ruled her out of the England squad for their Women's Euro 2022 title-winning campaign, however.
Houghton also represented Great Britain at the 2012 Olympics in London, finishing as the team's top scorer at the tournament from left-back. She also represented Team GB at the 2020 Olympics.
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She said on her official website: "There is no easy way to say it, but I am retiring from football at the end of the current WSL season.
"Taking the decision to retire is such a difficult thing to do. Whilst age comes to every player, it makes it no easier having to say the words out loud. Football has been my life, my passion and I have loved the career I have had.
"I am excited for whatever comes next but, in the meantime, I remain focused on giving everything I have left for Manchester City over the next two months."
City are firmly in the hunt for the WSL title as they lie second in the table, with leaders Chelsea only ahead of them on goal difference.
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Houghton is gunning for a second WSL title with City, having also won the league twice with Arsenal.
City head coach Gareth Taylor said: "Steph is - without question - an icon of the game. Although her professional career on the pitch is now coming to an end, her legacy will be felt for so many years to come. She's paved the way for so many to thrive in the future.
"Steph has lived and breathed football for such a long time, and she leaves it in the strongest place it has ever been - a true testament to her leadership, hard work, talent, and dedication.
"I feel incredibly privileged to have been able to work with her since 2020 and know her name will be written into the history books as a true footballing great.
"Steph will excel in whatever she puts her mind to, and on behalf of everyone here at Manchester City, I'd like to express our immense gratitude and wish Steph all the very best for the future."
Houghton is married to former Liverpool, Bradford and Bolton men's footballer Stephen Darby, who announced in September 2018 that he retired from the game aged 29 after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease.