Mary Earps' life off the pitch from major setback to mysterious love life
England goalkeeper Mary Earps has been making waves in her sporting field, but when she's not on the pitch, she leads a jet-setting lifestyle filled with luxury breaks. Despite her glamorous life and impressive football achievements, the 32-year-old has also faced her fair share of tough times.
If you watched the women's World Cup back in 2023, you'll remember Earps' incredible penalty save when the Lionesses were up against Spain in the final. The moment went down in history, despite England's defeat, but Earps was recognised for her standout performance. She was awarded the Golden Glove for the best goalkeeper at the tournament and, in the same year, took home the BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
Fast-forward two years, and Earps is still close with her fellow Lionesses and was spotted supporting some of her teammates for the Women's FA Cup match against Chelsea and Manchester United. But what has the star been up to in the last few years?
The England goalie swapped Man U for a new life in the French capital when she joined Paris St-Germain last summer. Speaking of her new adventure, she told BBC Sport: "I've kind of gone away from the craziness of England. I get to go away and work hard in silence and just kind of get on with my job quietly".
Here, the Mirror takes a closer look at her life away from the pitch...
Supportive family
The Nottingham-born ace is close with her family and has said they all keep her grounded with her newfound success. Speaking to GQ Magazine, she recounted how playing football in the garden with her dad and brother sparked her ambition to turn professional.
With the unwavering support of her parents, who ferried her to matches and training sessions, she joined a local club. "I was playing a local Saturday match and saved a penalty," she reminisced, pinpointing the moment she realised her future was in goalkeeping.
When it came to her FIFA Best Award nomination, her parents were the first to hear the news. Overwhelmed by the honour, she expressed to BBC Sport: "I was blown away [to be nominated]. There aren't loads of awards around for goalkeepers," showcasing her humble nature despite her accolades.
"I texted my mum and dad straight away. They humbly replied with just 'well done'. It was a standard Earps family reply, super chilled. It's really nice and the real icing on the cake. It doesn't happen often and it never really happens to me so I forget [these awards] exist in a way. To be named on the shortlist, it came out of the blue, and it was really cool."
As well as achieving numerous awards, Earps has been supported by her local community and even has a bus named after her in her hometown, West Bridgford, near Nottingham. She is often stopped for photographs and spotted in the street by fans, though it's taken some getting used to.
She told Vogue:"A lot has changed since our Euros win, including the profile of the game. I'm trying to adjust to and enjoy the attention that comes with success. Not that I would have it any other way."
Setback
But it wasn't always smooth sailing for the top-notch goalie; she once believed her professional aspirations were dashed. Back in September 2020, after tirelessly working for Manchester United, she was hoping for a comeback on the English team – yet, she missed the cut. She found herself behind goalkeepers Carly Telford, Ellie Roebuck, Hannah Hampton, and Sandy MacIver in the pecking order.
The crushing blow drove Mary to the floor of her kitchen, where she crumbled emotionally. She recalled: "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."
However, Earps didn't give up the sport and worked relentlessly for another two years, earning her spot back on the national team and shining at the 2023 Women's World Cup. "We don't fear anyone", she boldly stated ahead of one game against Nigeria at Brisbane Stadium, becoming a beacon of inspiration for many.
Part-time jobs and degree
Before Earps became a star in English football, she was working part-time jobs just to scrape together enough money for petrol to make it to training with Doncaster Belles. She juggled jobs at a cinema and toy shop, gave football coaching, and even pitched in at her dad's firm.
Recounting her journey on Jill Scott's podcast, she said: "That summer I was just moving on to my A-Levels, I had a job in the cinema, a job at a kids' toy shop, two coaching jobs and I worked with my dad's business, where I was doing some telesales work for him. I had quite a few jobs to pay for my boots and petrol basically."
She went on to describe how there wasn't much cash in footie during her early days: "I used to get expenses with Doncaster but there was no real money in the game back then. At first I had not passed my driving test so I was relying on my local team-mates for help. There was a girl who even drove from Southampton up to Doncaster and used to pick me up on the way. It is mad how the game has changed since then."
Despite the hectic schedule, Earps managed to earn a degree in Information Management and Business Studies from Loughborough University, taking an additional year at school to achieve her entrance requirements.
Celebrating on Instagram, she wrote: "Today I graduated from one of the top universities in the country, the university that I've always dreamed of attending, with a 2:1 degree in Business... and it's safe to say that the stress, sweat, tears and sleep deprivation were all worth it. Thank you for a challenging and unforgettable four years."
Jet-setter and love life
Away from football, the pro player lives her best life, travelling the world and spending time with her loved ones at home. A glance at her Instagram account (@1maryearps) reveals her adventures in Paris, Madrid, Dubai, Australia, and Berlin.
Mary often shares carefree, sun-kissed photos from her getaways, showcasing her lighter side. Her sense of humour is also evident, as seen in a Greek holiday snap captioned: "I can finally say that I've been to Greece, better late than feta."
Another photo of her rowing in Spain is accompanied by the witty remark: "When you're trying to do a cute pout but forget you don't have a top lip." Despite being the Lionesses' TikTok sensation with 1.2 million followers, where she frequently participates in trending challenges and shares behind-the-scenes match footage, Earps keeps her love life out of the spotlight. it is unknown whether she is in a relationship.
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