Steph Houghton announces she will RETIRE at the end of the season after legendary career, winning three Women's Super League titles with Man City and Arsenal and captaining England

Steph Houghton has announced that she will retire at the end of the season after a legendary career. 

The Manchester City captain, 35, has hoovered up three Women's Super League titles in an illustrious career - one with her current side and two at Arsenal. 

She captained England at two World Cups and one European Championship, skippering The Lionesses to third place at the 2015 World Cup. 

Across a storied international career, she gained 121 caps between 2007 and 2014.

Houghton began playing for Sunderland in 2002 and has also represented Leeds Carnegie and Arsenal before moving to City 10 years ago.

'There is no easy way to say it, but I am retiring from football at the end of the current WSL season,' she said. 

'Taking the decision to retire is such a difficult thing to do. Whilst age comes to every player, it makes it no easier having to say the words out loud. Football has been my life, my passion and I have loved the career I have had. 

'I am excited for whatever comes next but, in the meantime, I remain focused on giving everything I have left for Manchester City over the next two months.

'I would like to thank every teammate I have ever played with; I have continued to learn every day and appreciate the support each has given me and the friendships I have made along the way. 

'To my managers, coaches and all the staff that I have worked with and under, I appreciate the time, effort and work you have dedicated to improving my game and the standards of women's football.' 

Houghton was not part of Sarina Wiegman's Euros-winning squad in 2022 as injuries complicated her career but there is no doubt over her role in laying the foundations for England's success. 

The Lionesses legend admitted that it was 'hard to take' being excluded after a 'vague' conversation with Wiegman but has continued her career with positivity and quality.  

She has had a hand in eight major trophies with Manchester City and could add another Super League to her collection this campaign.

City are level on 43 points with Chelsea with just five games of the season left. 

City head coach Gareth Taylor said: 'Steph is - without question - an icon of the game. 

'Although her professional career on the pitch is now coming to an end, her legacy will be felt for so many years to come. She's paved the way for so many to thrive in the future.

'Steph has lived and breathed football for such a long time, and she leaves it in the strongest place it has ever been - a true testament to her leadership, hard work, talent, and dedication.

'I feel incredibly privileged to have been able to work with her since 2020 and know her name will be written into the history books as a true footballing great.

'Steph will excel in whatever she puts her mind to, and on behalf of everyone here at Manchester City, I'd like to express our immense gratitude and wish Steph all the very best for the future.'

Houghton has made 232 times for City since switching from Arsenal in 2014 and is their most decorated player ever.

Alongside her Super League title, she has lifted the FA Women's Cup three times with them and four Continental Cups. 

In 2016, she was rewarded with an MBE for her services to football. 

Her statement finished: 'It has been an honour and a privilege to represent Sunderland, Leeds Utd, Arsenal and to have been on the incredible journey that I have been on, with Manchester City over the past ten years.

'I will always be humbled to have made so many domestic appearances, to have captained my country and to have represented England and Team GB in so many international tournaments. I will always be very proud of everything that I have achieved in the game.

'To all the fans, I have never taken your support for granted. The special feeling of hearing 'Super Steph' will forever live with me.

'Whilst I have been lucky to have had special moments on the pitch, it gives me a lot of satisfaction what the game has achieved off the pitch during my career.

'The game has moved so quickly from amateur to professional over the last twenty years. I thank the trailblazers that came before me, for your perseverance and commitment to effecting change for my generation.

'I hope that I leave the game in a better place than when I started, and that I have contributed in some small way to giving the girls of tomorrow a better future in football.

'My biggest thanks, appreciation and love belongs to my husband and inspiration, Stephen, my mam, my dad, my brother Stuart, the rest of my family, Matthew Buck, and all my closest friends for your love, guidance, understanding and support - it has been my constant.

'I am excited for whatever comes next but, in the meantime, I remain focused on giving everything I have left for Manchester City, over the next two months.'

Last week, she raised £130,000 on a 178-mile charity walk raising awareness for Motor Neurone Disease, pushing her husband Stephen Darby - a former Liverpool star - in a wheelchair.

The disease ended Darby's career and the trek was led by him and former Bristol City forward Marcus Stewart - who both suffer from the illness - helped raise £130,000 for the cause.

The three-day 'March of the Day' walk started on Friday at Bradford City's Valley Parade stadium, where Darby spent five years of his career, before ending at Anfield on Sunday. 

Houghton was joined by a number of her former Lionesses team-mates on the walk, with Jill Scott and current England star Chloe Kelly showing their support on the day.

Former England men's stars Jamie Redknapp and Paul Scholes also joined the walk as they braved the wind and rain for the cause.