Manchester City and England’s midfielder Jill Scott has announced her retirement from football.
The 35-year-old played in 10 major tournaments, including two Olympics for Great Britain, and helped England win Euro 2022.
Scott made her England debut in 2006 and is second on his all-time list of most capped players with 161.
She started her career at the local club Sunderland and played for Everton before joining City in November 2013.
“I’m so in love with the game,” Scott said in a video for The Players’ Tribune. “I have been ever since kicking a ball at the age of five. I’ll forever be in love with the game.”
She added: “If I could say one thing to football, it would be just a massive thank you. It’s been the biggest part of my life.”
England and Manchester City team-mate Ellen White, 33, also announced her retirement this week, with coach Sarina Wiegman set to name her squad for England’s final 2023 World Cup qualifiers on Wednesday.
Scott headed in an extra-time winner against the Netherlands to send England into the Euro 2009 final against Germany, where they lost 6-2.
The midfielder scored a memorable long-range goal as England were knocked out of the 2011 World Cup quarter-finals by France, helped the Lionesses win a bronze medal at the 2015 World Cup and was named among the 10 players who ‘dared to shine’ at the 2019 World Cup, where England finished fourth.
She was named captain as she won her 150th cap last year, in a 6-0 friendly win over Northern Ireland, and ends her career with a total of 27 goals from 161 games for England, plus one from nine for GB.
‘Trailblazer’, ‘legend’ and a ‘friend for life’ – tributes to Scott
Scott’s Manchester City and England team-mate Alex Greenwood tweeted that the midfielder was “a true legend”.
“Unbelievable team-mate & a friend for life,” defender Greenwood wrote. “Thank you for everything you have given to the game, a true legend!! Happy Retirement, Champ.”
Former club Everton said Scott was a “Trailblazer. Club legend. European Champion”, while ex-Toffees goalkeeper Neville Southall called her an “outstanding person.”
England cricket captain Heather Knight congratulated Scott on her “unbelievable career” and added that the fans would miss her.
Sunderland, where Scott started on the path to football success, wrote: “Mackem, European Champion, Legend. The best of us.”