Steph Houghton began her career back in 2002 at Sunderland as a striker, she then played midfield before becoming a defender at Leeds United, Arsenal and finally Manchester City, where she played her final game last May.
After having her first England call up in 2012, Houghton captained her country for eight years, won 121 caps, was awarded an MBE by the Queen, represented Great Britain in two Olympic Games, three world cups and was one of the first female players to be given a central contract by the Football Association.
“There will be girls who have seen Steph play with talent, determination and integrity and gone home and said, ‘I want to be Steph Houghton’,” – Baroness Sue Campbell.
Although her career over the past 14 years has been nothing short of inspiring, Steph was not selected for the 2022 European Championship after fighting to recover from a torn Achilles. She expressed feeling “disappointed and let down” by her experience with the Lionesses under head coach Sarina Wiegman. Although she was told that continued hard work and improvement could earn her a place in the squad, Steph Houghton felt as though that opportunity never truly materialised. In the end, she felt abandoned and betrayed by the way she was treated.
Despite facing setbacks, her career in women’s football didn’t end there – she continues to play a key role in advancing the women’s game.
Steph Houghton has been a pivotal figure in the rise of women’s football, captaining England through a transformative era marked by rapid growth, heightened scrutiny, rising expectations, and increased media attention – all while helping to mentor and inspire the next generation of players. Not only that, three days before announcing her retirement she completed a 178-mile march from Bradford to Liverpool, raising £130,000 for The Darby Rimmer MND Foundation, after her husband was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) in 2018.
“It’s tough because you don’t want to retire or go away from something you love so much and that has given you so much happiness over a long period of time.”
Steph Houghton’s decision to retire was driven by her desire to spend more time with her husband, Stephen Darby – a former footballer for Liverpool, Bradford City, and Bolton Wanderers – who is living with Motor Neurone Disease (MND). MND is a progressive, degenerative condition that damages nerves and leads to muscle weakness. Stephen was diagnosed in 2018, just four months after the couple married. Steph has spoken openly about how difficult this journey has been, but her resilience remains unwavering. She is committed to raising awareness and supporting vital research to find a cure for an illness that affects up to 5,000 adults in the UK at any given time.
“No one could ever prepare you for that moment, none of us had heard of what motor neurone disease was,” said Houghton.
“By retiring it allows me to have that time. Family means everything to me. They have always been there throughout my career.”
Although her playing days are behind her, Steph Houghton remains deeply committed to advancing women’s football. She continues to champion the sport by advocating for greater visibility and equal opportunities, serving as a Manchester City ambassador, beginning her coaching journey, working as a pundit with Sky Sports, and launching a podcast alongside Ian Wright.
