England goalkeeper Mary Earps has revealed she came close to quitting football before Sarina Wiegman 's appointment as manager.
The Manchester United and Lionesses shot stopper explains how Wiegman's arrival as England boss changed the course of her life in a new BBC documentary on the Euros' success, 'Lionesses: Champions of Europe.' Last summer Earps played a huge role in helping England win a first major trophy, only conceding twice on the way to winning the tournament and playing every minute of the campaign.
But the keeper had a long road to the top of the game and had only just won one cap prior to the previous European Championship in 2017. When interviewed for the documentary she explains how Wiegman 's arrival changed the course of her career, at a point where she was seriously considering her future in the game.
"To be honest I never thought I would get back to this point (as England 's number one goalkeeper)," Earps told the BBC film. "I didn't think I would be in a squad for a major tournament again, let alone playing a final against Germany at Wembley.
"I can vividly remember the days of feeling really down. I got to a point where I felt I had sort of reached my limits. I had given football a good go, but wasn't quite good enough.
"I had responsibilities, I had a mortgage and it wasn't adding up. Eventually I decided to give it just a couple more years.
"Then Sarina came in, in the September (2021) and life changed just like that. I felt that she really understood where I came from and had real empathy for me as a human being. That is not something I've experienced a lot in football.
"I like her directness, her honesty and I can't really express how much she has changed my career really. This whole year has just changed everything."
Earps had previously gone to the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup as part of the England squad but was a distant third choice behind Karen Bardsley and Carly Telford. Now she is one of the first names of Wiegman's teamsheet having helped the Lionesses to an unbeaten 2022.
The England shot-stopper is one of several players interviewed along with teammates Leah Williamson, Ella Toone, Lucy Bronze and Ellen White. Earps also speaks of her role when the squad gatecrashed a Wiegman press conference following the win over Germany in the final.
After pulling off some important saves in the nail-biting final, England's No.1 produced one of the iconic images of a memorable day by dancing on the table while the squad belted out the nation's favourite football anthem "Three Lions", just as Wiegman was addressing the media.
"I got on the table and looked up just to see a load of cameras," recalled Earps. "At that point I thought 'yeah, what have I done here'.
"But I had to commit to it by then, so I just jiggled my hips a bit and off I went!"
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