🏟️ Football fans, grab the tissues! Steph Houghton, England’s former captain and Manchester City icon, has announced she’ll hang up her boots at the end of this Women’s Super League season. The 35-year-old defender shared the emotional news Wednesday, calling it ‘the hardest decision’ after a career that’s been nothing short of legendary.
🌍 With 121 international caps and a bronze-medal triumph at the 2015 World Cup, Houghton has been the heartbeat of English football for over a decade. ‘Football has been my life,’ she wrote, captioning her farewell post with gratitude for representing Sunderland, Arsenal, and Man City—where she became a pillar of their rise since joining in 2014.
💬 ‘I hope I’ve left the game better than I found it,’ she added, nodding to her trailblazing role in women’s sports. From leading the Lionesses to inspiring Gen Z ballers, Houghton’s legacy is cemented as a game-changer who made pitches feel like stages 🎭⚡.
🔙 Fun fact: She kicked off her career at Sunderland as a teen—proving even legends start small. Now, as she preps for her final kick, fans worldwide are saluting a career that redefined what’s possible for women in football. Got chills yet?
