Former England captain and Manchester City defender Steph Houghton will retire at the end of the current Women's Super League season, she announced on Wednesday.
At 35 years old, Houghton has earned 121 caps for England. She was named England captain in 2014 and led her country to a bronze medal at the 2015 World Cup.
\"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,\" she shared in a statement on social media.
\"I will always be humbled to have made so many domestic appearances, to have captained my country and to have represented England and Team GB in so many international tournaments,\" she added.
Houghton began her career with Sunderland, joined Manchester City from Arsenal in 2014, and has made nearly 150 league appearances with City.
\"It has been an honor and a privilege to represent Sunderland, Leeds Utd, Arsenal and to have been on the incredible journey that I have been on with Manchester City over the past ten years,\" she said.
\"I hope that I leave the game in a better place than when I started and that I have contributed in some small way to giving the girls of tomorrow a better future in football,\" Houghton concluded.
Reference(s):
Former England captain and Man City defender Houghton to retire
cgtn.com
