Karen Bardsley announces retirement
Manchester City Football Club can confirm that goalkeeper Karen Bardsley has announced her retirement from professional football.
The 37-
She figured prominently as England finished as runners-
Winning the Continental Tyres Cup in her first season in Manchester, she played a crucial part in the treble-
Unfortunately suffering a hamstring injury in a 2019 World Cup quarter final against Norway, Bardsley rehabilitated during the 2019-
With the conclusion of the current campaign on the horizon, Bardsley has officially announced her retirement from the game, marking the end of an incredible career.
Speaking about her decision, she said: “It was obviously a pretty tough decision for me to make, but after a lot of deliberation and unfortunately being away from the pitch for quite a while now due to injury, it just felt like it was the right moment.
“As sad and strange as it is to be stepping away from something I’ve committed my entire young adult life to, ultimately it’s something I feel really proud of and I can honestly say, hand on heart, that I’ve left no stone unturned and I have no regrets about how I’ve applied myself and what I’ve achieved.
“I feel incredibly proud of my career, but ultimately I’m really excited about the next steps and what is to come in the future, and I’m just very much looking forward to giving back to the football community in many other ways.”
Omar Berrada, Chief Football Operations Manager at Manchester City, said: “I am sure that I speak for everybody at Manchester City when I say that it has been an honour to have Karen at the Club for the past eight-
“She is a consummate professional both on and off the pitch, while her passion and commitment to making a difference and positive change in whatever way she can is truly admirable.
“I have had the pleasure of working with her directly over the years and as I’m sure anybody who has met her will attest, she is an incredibly talented individual, with so many strings to her bow.
“I’d like to wish her all the best in this next step of her career as she hangs up her gloves, and I know that she will continue to be a real pioneer in the women’s game.”
Gavin Makel, Manchester City Women Managing Director, added: “Karen has been an integral part of Manchester City Women from the moment she joined us -
“She has been a truly incredible servant of not just Manchester City, but the game as a whole, and has been an influential figure in some of the most iconic moments for both club and country.
“She is without doubt a real legend of the game, and it has been a pleasure to be on this journey with her, seeing her grow professionally both on and off the pitch.
“I have every faith that her future away from the field is an incredibly bright one, and I look forward to seeing her make her mark on the women’s game and beyond in many ways in the years to come.”
Head Coach Gareth Taylor also said: “Karen has left an undeniable mark on women’s football, and I believe that her playing career is just the start of the overall impact she will make.
“Although injury has limited her appearances on the pitch during my time in charge, she has remained an integral member of our team and has made a real difference behind the scenes.
“She deserves all the plaudits that she receives, and I would like to wish her the very best for the future and the next step of her journey.”