Mary Earps: The Shocking Retirement That Stunned English Football
England Legend Steps Away from International Stage
Professional English footballer Mary Earps has retired, with immediate effect, ahead of the 2025 European Championship in Switzerland. With 53 senior caps for her country and countless individual accolades including two FIFA Best Awards and a World Cup golden glove, the decision will confirm her absence for the forthcoming UEFA European Championship in Switzerland this summer. The announcement sent shockwaves through women’s football, coming just 36 days before England were set to defend their European crown.
A Glittering Career Comes to an End
Earps received her first cap in 2017 and was an ever-present in the Lionesses’ historic home UEFA EURO 2022 success and the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign in Australia. At the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, she served as the vice captain for England, and received the Golden Glove award for best goalkeeper of the tournament. Her performances earned her recognition as the winner of 2023 BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award.
The Difficult Decision
The 2022 Women’s Euros winner has decided to walk away from her England career after losing her place as first-choice goalkeeper to Chelsea’s Hannah Hampton. However, Earps has emphasised that her decision was about more than just her playing position. The reality, Earps insists, is very different and involved a loss of trust in manager Sarina Wiegman, who rewarded the “bad behaviour” of her goalkeeping rival Hannah Hampton.
Mental Health Struggles Revealed
In her autobiography published in late 2025, Earps revealed the personal toll of her international career. One of England’s most decorated and most loved Lionesses suffered matchday panic attacks, struggled with her fame, spent much of her last year in the England set-up alone in her room in tears, and, shockingly, during lockdown, considered taking her own life. These revelations provided important context for her retirement decision and highlighted the pressures faced by elite athletes.
Life After International Football
Although she is retiring from international football, Mary Earps will still play club football, after joining Paris Saint-Germain from Manchester United last year. Mary Earps, despite retiring from international football, travelled to Switzerland to support her former England teammates at Euro 2025. Her successor, Hannah Hampton, helped England successfully defend their European title, demonstrating the strength in depth of English women’s goalkeeping.
Significance for Women’s Football
Earps’ retirement marks the end of an era for English women’s football. Her achievements helped elevate the profile of the women’s game and inspired a generation of young goalkeepers. Former England No.1 Earps though, told Goal that she has no regrets over her decision to retire from international football. Her legacy extends beyond statistics, representing a pivotal figure in the transformation of women’s football in England from a marginal sport to mainstream entertainment. As the Lionesses continue their success, Earps’ contribution to building that foundation will not be forgotten.