Goalkeeper for England & Man City notifies retirement

Karen Bardsley, goalkeeper for England and Manchester City, will retire at the conclusion of the season after a 13-year career at the top of the women’s game.

The 37-year-old has 81 England caps to her name, and she has eight major medals to her name with City, including the club’s first Women’s Super League triumph.

Since suffering a hamstring injury during the 2019 World Cup, Bardsley has struggled to get playing time.

“At the end of the day, I want people to know that I always gave it my all,” she remarked.

In January 2021, Bardsley’s last league match for City came against Aston Villa.

“It’s disheartening when your body doesn’t match what your head wants to achieve,” she told a foreign sports channel.

“In terms of life after football, the danger outweighed the benefits.

“I don’t think it would be beneficial for me, physically or psychologically, if I had to go through another operation like the ones I’ve had.”

“Accepting [retirement] was difficult.”

Bardsley won the SheBelieves Cup in 2019 after appearing in three World Cups and two European Championships for England.

She also competed for Team GB at the London 2012 Olympic Games, where they lost 2-0 to Canada in the quarterfinals.

Since joining Manchester City in 2014, Bardsley has won a Women’s Super League title, three FA Cups, and four League Cups.

“Winning the League Cup final in my first season with Man City was one of the most memorable moments of my life,” she remarked.

“We were a mishmash of girls who had been put together. No-one anticipated anything from us.”

The American-born goalkeeper also expressed her pride in being a member of an England team that had “broken through some historical records,” including reaching the World Cup semi-final in 2019.

“Ultimately, it’s simply an honor to be a part of a community of incredibly brilliant female athletes who have persevered in situations where they haven’t always been treated with the respect that they deserve,” Bardsley said.

“We’ve worked hard to get to the point where young girls may join a grassroots football team and aspire to be a Lioness or a professional football player.”

Bardsley began her professional career in 2009 with Sky Blue FC in the United States, followed by a stint with Linkopings in Sweden.

In 2013, she joined WSL side Lincoln City Ladies, which is now known as Notts County, before making the switch to City.

She signed a one-year contract deal with City in July after spending last season on loan at OL Reign in the United States.

Bardsley is already looking forward to the next phase of her career, and she wants to utilize her expertise to assist increase the number of girls who play football, and to build on the legacy of the Euros in England this summer.

“What truly fascinates me, what really drives me, is providing individuals the best chance possible to reach their full potential, whether it’s in football or in another environment,” she continued.

“I’d like to give back to football, namely the goalkeeping community. With the knowledge I have today, there are many things I would do differently if I were a young goalie.”