England’s Ellen White with the trophy (Nigel French/PA)
(Picture: PA Wire)Ellen White has announced her retirement from football after helping England to their historic Euro 2022 triumph.
The 33-year-old striker released a statement via her Twitter account on Monday expressing her desire to go out on her own terms and “watch the next generation shine”.
A storied career with the Lionesses was capped in the summer with two goals during a tournament in which White started every game for England, a leading role she has enjoyed for years.
No woman has scored more than her 52 goals for England with only Wayne Rooney’s all-time record, at 53, ahead of her in the country’s footballing history.
White began her career as a youth player with Arsenal before spells with Chelsea and Leeds Carnegie. In 2010, she returned to the Gunners and lifted two Women’s Super League and Women’s FA Cup titles.
Thank You Football… pic.twitter.com/WmeDGeX9zT
— Ellen White (@ellsbells89) August 22, 2022
Spells with Notts County and Birminghan followed by a move to Manchester City three years ago, with whom she won the Women’s FA Cup in 2020.
“This has been one of the hardest decisions of my life but one that I know is the right decision for me,” White wrote. “This decision has always been one I have wanted to make on my terms.
“And this is my time to say goodbye to football and watch the next generation shine.”
Ellen White – the all-time record goalscorer for the #Lionesses – has announced her retirement from football.
— Lionesses (@Lionesses) August 22, 2022
Congrats on an amazing career, @ellsbells89, and good luck for the future! 👏 pic.twitter.com/vXgGLCMlog
A true icon 🤩
— Vitality Women's FA Cup (@VitalityWFACup) August 22, 2022
Three-time #WomensFACup winner, @ellsbells89 has announced her retirement from football. pic.twitter.com/8Jnhr0w3G0
Man City head coach Gareth Taylor paid tribute to White, saying: “Ellen is without doubt an icon of the game, and although her career is now at its end, her efforts have paved the way for so many to flourish in the future.
“She has given so much over the years to the game that she adores, and she leaves it in the strongest place it has ever been, which is testament to her hard work and sacrifices.
“She has been the definition of the consummate professional and I feel incredibly privileged to have been able to work with her over the past two seasons - her name will be written into the history books as an icon of women’s football.”
