"England goalkeeper Mary Earps opts for early retirement, surprising fans mere weeks before Euro 2025"
English Goalkeeper Mary Earps Retires from International Football
Mary Earps, the Paris Saint-Germain stopper, has announced her retirement from the England national team with immediate effect. This decision means she will not be part of England's squad to defend their Women's Euros title this summer.
Over the course of eight years, Earps earned 53 caps and was twice named the Best FIFA Women's Goalkeeper. She also won the golden glove at the 2023 Women's World Cup, saving a penalty in the final. Earps was a key member of the Lionesses team that won the Women's Euros on home soil the previous year.
In a statement, Earps expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to represent her country and play with exceptional players. She emphasized that this was a difficult decision and that she felt it was the right time for her to step aside, allowing younger talent to emerge.
Sarina Wiegman, the Lionesses' manager, acknowledged the disappointment of Earps' absence from the squad but respected her decision. Wiegman emphasized the substantial impact Earps had on the team and English football as a whole.
England's current squad for upcoming fixtures includes Hannah Hampton, Khiara Keating, and Anna Moorhouse, as goalkeepers. The team will face Portugal at Wembley Stadium in the Women's Nations League on Friday, before traveling to Spain on June 3. Following their group stage matches in the Euros in Switzerland, England will take on France, the Netherlands, and Wales.
Several Lionesses players have taken to social media to pay tribute to Earps' career, expressing admiration and respect for her contributions to the team.
In a nod to Earps' significant impact, a tribute will be made at a future Lionesses match. The news of Earps' retirement from international football has been met with reactions from football enthusiasts and commentators, who recognize her exceptional skill and leadership both on and off the pitch.
[1] https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/57276305[3] https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/may/04/england-womens-mary-earps-retires-from-international-football-after-eight-years
- With her retirement, Mary Earps, the celebrated goalkeeper, will no longer stand between the posts for the England national team, potentially leaving a vacancy in the premier league of sports – football.
- As a testament to her illustrious career, Earps' legendary save in the 2023 Women's World Cup final secured her golden glove and earned her a place in the annals of sports history, alongside other world-class managers and football legends.
- In the future, a new manager of the England women's team will have the challenging opportunity to guide the team through the high-stakes tournaments, such as the Women's Euros and the World Cup, as Mary Earps steps down from international football to focus on her football endeavors at the club level.
