Steph Houghton has played such a transformative role in making women's football part of the national conversation that the game will inevitably feel a poorer place when she retires at the end of this season.
The Manchester City centre-half and former England captain prompted richly deserved plaudits last night as she announced the decision to hang up her boots at the conclusion of the campaign this spring.
As the first female to grace the cover of Shoot football magazine, Houghton was at the vanguard of her sport's metamorphosis from niche to mainstream and her amalgam of assured on-pitch leadership and hallmark humility off it will be much missed. At 35 she is bringing the curtain down on a 20-year career spanning four clubs - Sunderland, Leeds, Arsenal and Manchester City - and 16 domestic trophies, the latter eight secured during 10 years and 241 appearances for City.
Now, as the sole survivor from City's first professional team a decade ago, a defender capped 121 times by England between 2007 and 2021 and a star of four major tournaments, hopes to sign off by helping Gareth Taylor's squad to clinch this season's Women's Super League title.
This story is from the March 28, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
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This story is from the March 28, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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