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BBC News
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Mary Earps: England goalkeeper's journey to the top and the legacy she leaves behind
"She changed goalkeeping. She changed the game. But she hasn't changed."It takes just 11 words for former England team-mate Ellen White to neatly sum up the impact of Mary Earps in a new BBC Sport she is saying, there's something about Mary it's something that'll be felt long after the shock international retirement and the subsequent negative headlines, announced this the peripatetic days bouncing around a handful of clubs and juggling six part-time jobs in the amateur women's football era to juggling endorsements galore as a one-person global lying in an inconsolable heap on the kitchen floor barely able to speak after being dropped by then-England boss Phil Neville in 2020 to finding her voice to take on sportswear giant lastly, perhaps most long-lastingly, helping to flip the perception of women's goalkeeping on its presence on the pitch and her prescience off it - a willingness to embrace TikTok is widely credited with her huge popularity - has helped make Earps an unstoppable week's retirement is not a full stop of of the 32-year-old's stated reason for stepping back from international football is to concentrate on her club career - she's currently at Paris the end of an international era inevitably leads to questions about legacy."The legacy I want to leave is leaving the game in a better place," she says."That's what it's always been. To try to leave women's goalkeeping in a better place than it was."I think in more recent times what's been added to that is to make goalkeeping cool."I just think representation matters – you can't be what you can't see and hopefully I can represent to people a goalkeeper, but also somebody who's been through a lot and who is still standing, still swinging. Hopefully I can encourage others to do the same." Anyone looking for a source of encouragement from Earps' career has plenty to go changing the game seemed a million miles away when the Nottingham-born keeper started a series of in-depth interviews for documentary Mary Earps: Queen of Stops, Earps and her family open up about that journey to the top of her sport – and some of the big decisions en a goalkeeper was a no-brainer. "From my very first game I knew I wanted to be a goalkeeper," she says of an opening match between her side West Bridgford Colts and Hucknall Town. "There was a penalty given against us and I saved it. My dad said, in typical dad fashion, 'see, if one of the other girls was in goal they wouldn't have saved that' and for me, that was it.""I always knew she'd be good," her brother Joel says. "Something my dad tried to get her to do was to try to develop into a goalkeeper with attributes that weren't really a part of the women's game then. A goalkeeper that was good with her feet. A goalkeeper that would come out and collect the ball well."But despite her father's high standards, Earps was taking her first footballing steps in a radically different era.A 17-year-old Earps made her senior debut for Doncaster Belles in the inaugural season of the Women's Super League in 2011. At that time her match fee was £ the time the WSL turned professional in 2018, Earps already had eight teams on her footballing resume."I think my Wikipedia page probably looks a bit colourful when you look at all the teams I've played for but that was kind of the reality back then," Earps amateur status at that time meant that players were juggling travel - "three, four or five hours to a WSL club", remembers Earps – and a day job, around football. Earps burned the midnight oil more than most – at one time she had six part-time jobs, including working at a toy shop and a a result, her career was at a crossroads when she graduated with a degree in information management and business studies from Loughborough University in 2016."My fears were [the women's game] wasn't sustainable," she says. "The infrastructure for women's football was not going to allow it to go anywhere."Going to university was definitely always the plan and when I graduated I thought 'well, I can either go for something that I really want, or, I can try and make a living'. It felt like it was worth taking a bit of a shot and a bit of a gamble on my football career and myself."Earps will no doubt take some time now to look back and reflect on how that gamble has paid part of Earps' impressive skill has been her ability to make and advocate for change in real time. On multiple occasions during her career she has spoken up for the need for specific goalkeeping coaches, something she didn't have access to when starting out. Earps' international career was very nearly over before it had a scene in the BBC Sport documentary Lionesses: Champions of Europe in which Earps describes the impact England coach Sarina Wiegman has had on her clicks her fingers to the lens as she describes a Sarina Sliding Doors-style shift, saying: "Sarina came in and life changed, literally like that. Drop of a dime."Aged 28, she had been in a two-year international exile prior to Wiegman's arrival in September 2021. She had played her last game under Neville two years earlier against Germany at she found out via Instagram in March 2020 that she'd been dropped by Neville she hit rock bottom. "It felt like my world was ending," she remembers. "I opened my phone getting ready to scroll over lunch and yeah, I wasn't in the squad. I'd not had an email, not had a call, not a text, no notification from anyone."That was the moment where I was in pieces on the kitchen floor."In piecing together any story on the impact or legacy of Earps on women's football, one thing is almost Wiegman's appointment, her journey to winning the Euros and twice being voted the world's best goalkeeper wouldn't have recollections of her and Wiegman's first conversation illuminate one of the other ways she's changed the game – through her strength of their bond and instant connection also offers insight into Wiegman's reported frustration, external at Earps' retirement this week."The first conversation (with Sarina) was really emotional," Earps says. "It was tears and surprise and vulnerability and I don't think I had ever really shared that vulnerability with a manager before."It was strange for me that that happened within a few minutes of talking."She was very clear from the start: 'This is your opportunity, it's up to you what you do with it'." 'I'm going to do it the Mary Earps way' "She just needed someone to believe in her," former Manchester United and England team-mate Alessia Russo the pitch Earps drew on the pain of her England exile and began the journey towards the record-breaking goalkeeper she would become."It happened at the same time as me figuring out who I was as a person and being like, no, this is who I am. I don't want to be somebody else," she says."And it's the same as a goalkeeper."This is what I think I'm good at. Communication. I'm an organiser. Trying to influence the game in certain ways."I'm not going to try and do something I'm not good at like stand on the halfway line like Manuel Neuer would do, because that's not who I am. I'm going to try and do it the Mary Earps way."Off the field, the darker times also helped evolve the Mary Earps way, sparking a revolution in her attitude to mental health, which has had as much of an impact on the women's game and its fanbase as her prowess in goal."It's become a massive part of who I am now, to be more vulnerable and to be more present," she zenith of that new-found vulnerability came at arguably the pinnacle of her February 2023, the Manchester United keeper was voted the world's best goalkeeper at Fifa's awards after inspiring England to their first major women's title at Euro acceptance speech garnered as many headlines as her said the award was for "anyone who's ever been in a dark place" and added: "Sometimes success looks like this – collecting trophies – sometimes it's just waking up and putting one step in front of the other." Nike campaign was 'brave and inspiring' A year later she won the award again, as well as being named the BBC's Sport Personality of the Year, after saving a penalty as the Lionesses narrowly lost the World Cup final to Spain."Even when she won Fifa Best Goalkeeper for a second time, she was still the same Mary in training the next day. The Mary who wanted to be better than the day before."Former Manchester United and England team-mate Ella Toone reveals a crucial reason behind Earps' incredible career - the steeliness that exists alongside the Lucy Bronze recounts an instructive conversation long before Earps was established as England's first choice."I remember her saying, 'I know I have got what it takes to be No. 1'," Bronze says. "She had that belief."Sportswear brand Nike felt the full force of said steeliness in the run-up to the 2023 World Cup when they initially made the decision not to put Earps' replica goalkeeper jersey on spoke combatively about the decision on the eve of the tournament – putting herself in the centre of a media storm and also adding an additional burden in a high-profile tournament for which both she and the Lionesses were already in the spotlight given they were among the comments led to a petition, garnering more than 150,000 signatures and a sharp U-turn by Nike."You always see young people want to be strikers and score the goals but Mary sets the tone for being a goalkeeper and how important that can be too," Russo says."To start that campaign was really powerful but also really brave and inspiring to do while you're about to play one of the biggest tournaments of your lives." Once more with Earps, much like her retirement this week, it reflects her uncompromising says she felt compelled to speak because the Nike standpoint was "telling a whole demographic of people that they're not important, that the position they play isn't important".She added: "I did feel the pressure but, regardless of how I performed, it was basically a simple moral question of… if you get asked that question and you don't answer it honestly, and you have a fantastic tournament or you have a bad tournament, when you look at yourself in the mirror, after your career is done, what are you going to think?""What if I'd have said it after the tournament? It wouldn't have been as powerful."Powerful, unapologetic pre-tournament statements – sound familiar?Perhaps Earps' iconic international career was destined to end this the full documentary, Mary Earps: Queen of Stops, on BBC iPlayer now and on BBC One on 2 July at 22:40 BST.
The Guardian
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Mary Earps made indelible mark with England and leaves big gap to fill
The news of Mary Earps's retirement from international football has been met with a cacophony of views, ranging from shock and disappointment to sadness and anger. That the decision to step away has prompted such emotional responses, coming less than six weeks before the first game of England's European Championship defence, is a testament to her popularity and the standing she has in the game. Earps's international career has been a rollercoaster, which hit a low when she was dropped by Phil Neville in March 2020. The goalkeeper thought it was a one‑off, that she would be back, but she was omitted from the next squad, then the next, and it was not until Sarina Wiegman arrived as head coach that things took an upward turn. In that year away from the international game she thought she would never pull on the shirt again, and that took an emotional and mental toll. No one, least of all Earps, could have predicted what would lie ahead. Injuries to Karen Bardsley and Ellie Roebuck opened the door for Earps to start under Wiegman and she grabbed the opportunity. She went from third-choice goalkeeper at the 2019 World Cup in France and out in the cold in 2020 to the No 1 for the Lionesses at the home Euro 2022. Her rise following a phenomenal run to the first major international title for the senior women's side was staggering. A key component is she comes across as fun and personable, her iconic hip swinging on the press conference table after the players crashed Wiegman's post-match press conference after the Euro 2022 final victory thrusting her personality to the fore. With the spotlight comes responsibility and Earps rose to it, being a vocal and passionate advocate for goalkeeping and goalkeeper coaching, speaking candidly about the lack of proper coaching available to her generation of keepers for much of their careers and supporting efforts to increase the popularity of the position. Then, there was the challenging of the England sponsors Nike on the eve of the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand where, when asked about the lack of availability of replica women's goalkeeper kits, she paused, clearly emotional and weighing up whether it was the right time to speak out, before launching into an impassioned plea for the sportswear giant to make a U-turn on their decision to not sell the kits. She said: 'I can't really sugarcoat this in any way, so I am not going to try. It is hugely disappointing and very hurtful.' She forced change in the months that followed. At that World Cup Earps shone on the pitch, collecting the Golden Glove after England endured heartbreak, losing 1-0 against Spain in the final. She earned the nickname 'queen of stops' and footage of her expletive‑laden reaction after saving a penalty to keep the deficit to a single goal went viral. She was named The Best Fifa women's goalkeeper in 2022 and 2023 for those tournament heroics and won BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 2023. Sign up to Moving the Goalposts No topic is too small or too big for us to cover as we deliver a twice-weekly roundup of the wonderful world of women's football after newsletter promotion Her popularity has been enhanced by her social media presence, particularly on TikTok. Meanwhile, she became the first women's football player to have a waxwork at Madame Tussauds having won a public vote. She also launched her own line of T-shirts inspired by her speech when she won her first Fifa award in 2022, dedicating the win to 'anyone who's ever been in a dark place' before saying: 'You can achieve anything you set your mind to. Sometimes success looks like this – collecting trophies – sometimes it's just waking up and putting one step in front of the other. There's only one of you in the world, and that's more than good enough. Be unapologetically yourself.' In recent months Earps has found her playing time with England reduced, with Chelsea's Hannah Hampton preferred to the goalkeeper capped 53 times. It is a widely held view that Hampton is better with the ball at her feet, which suits the way England want to play, building out from the back. However, whether the talented 24-year-old, who has performed exceptionally well for Chelsea this season, will be able to match the stage presence, confidence and output of Earps on the biggest international stages remains to be seen. Her international retirement comes as a shock, but it is understood to be something she has been considering and discussing with Wiegman for some time. The timing of the announcement, so soon before the European Championship, is unusual, and many would have liked to see the senior head steer England's young keepers through the tournament. The reasons for the decision and its timing will no doubt come out in time; what we can take some time to do now is appreciate and reflect on Earps's commitment, passion and energy in an England shirt.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
🎥 Moreno hits goal of the season contender to celebrate Mother's Day
Portland Timbers jumped to a 1-0 first-half lead against visiting Sporting Kansas City at Providence Park in stunning fashion thanks to a stunning effort from Santiago Moreno. The 26-year-old Colombian is now in his fifth season with the Timbers but may have just scored the best goal of his full career after bagging an overhead kick to put the home side out in front in the 10th minute. Advertisement Not only was his effort a shoo-in to be a contender for MLS Goal of the Season, but the chance to celebrate Mother's Day the right way was too good to pass up after Moreno jumped into the crowd to hug his mother in the stands. Moreno, who had six goals and fourteen assists in 2024, now sits on three goals and two helpers in 2025 as he looks to hit his stride under Phil Neville once again. 📸 Editorial Photo Credit: © Troy Wayrynen | 2025 May 10-Imagn Images
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
📈 MLS Power Rankings: Miami back on top as east dominates top-five
We've had another major shakeup in the top-10 of the MLS power rankings. While the Eastern Conference teams continue to dominate the upper-echelon of the standings, the west has perhaps provided us with the most volatile movement. Let's dig into this week's top-10. 10. Portland Timbers (no movement) 📸 Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images Advertisement Phil Neville's side are now unbeaten in six consecutive MLS matches, and after a frankly chaotic 3-3 draw with LAFC over the weekend, they proved that they can absolutely hang with the big-boys under the light. There may some rumblings of disappointment in the Rose City after the Timbers gave up the lead on two separate occasions Saturday evening, both goals coming in stoppage-time of the respective halves. 9. Austin FC (🆕) 📸 Scott Wachter-Imagn Images After a short spell out of the top-10, Austin have jumped back into 9th thanks to a narrow win over the LA Galaxy, albeit a woeful LA Galaxy. Advertisement Despite spending mega-bucks on their attacking ranks during the last-two offseasons, they have struggled mightily to get them going. However, for the first time this season Austin perhaps have scored a bundle of goals on their way to victory — they will settle for the three points though. 8. LAFC (👎) 📸 Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images LAFC feel as if they could be on the verge of breaking out one week, and the next they require a magical free-kick and stoppage-time penalty to rescue a point. But one thing is for sure, Steve Cherundolo's side remain as talented as any of the top teams in MLS and can put together a run at the drop of a hat. 7. Minnesota United (👎) 📸 Matt Krohn-Imagn Images Advertisement It may be harsh on Minnesota to fall a few places after a goalless draw with FC Dallas, but they are simply a victim of the teams around them making big strides in the last seven days. Eric Ramsay's team is as well-drilled as they come in MLS, but a little bit of star-dust can sometimes be lacking when they need it most. 6. Cincinnati (👍) 📸 Amber Searls-Imagn Images After a slump in MLS in the midst of their Concacaf Champions Cup run, Cincinnati have a bounced back quite well, winning four in a row to remind the league why they remain one of the true MLS Cup contenders. Just give Cincinnati a few more weeks and they will keep on creeping up towards the top of the standings. 5. Philadelphia Union (👍) 📸 Kyle Ross-Imagn Images Advertisement The Union responded well to a min-slump with a superb 3-0 victory over Atlanta United, and thanks to their red-hot start to the season are still just three points out of top-spot in the Eastern Conference. And when you have the MLS golden boot leader up front, you'll always be in with a shout. 4. Columbus Crew (👎) 📸 Jason Miller - 2025 Getty Images The Crew drop in our rankings for the first time in a long time after a 'home' loss to Inter Miami. Columbus' lack of a ruthless number-nine was on full display in a game they dominated, but somehow found a way to draw a blank. 3. Charlotte FC (👍) 📸 Scott Kinser-Imagn Images Advertisement Dean Smith's side continue to roll and they impressed wholeheartedly in a thumping victory over San Diego on Saturday. That is now eight straight games at home without tasting defeat for Charlotte, and a pearly seat at the top of the Eastern Conference. 2. Vancouver Whitecaps (👎) 📸 Scott Rovak-Imagn Images Vancouver may have only sat atop our rankings for one week but you can hang your hat on them making a return at some point this season. The high-flying 'Caps touched earth for 90 minutes in a hard-fought goalless draw with St. Louis City this past weekend, but you can't help but wonder if they have their sights set on a Concacaf Champions Cup showdown with Inter Miami later this week. 1. Inter Miami (👍) 📸 Jason Miller - 2025 Getty Images Speak of the devil, Inter Miami are back on top. They rode their luck in Cleveland on Saturday, but Javier Mascherano's side seemingly always find a way to win when the chips are down. 📸 Jason Mowry - 2025 Getty Images
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
📈 MLS Power Rankings: Miami back on top as east dominates top-five
We've had another major shakeup in the top-10 of the MLS power rankings. While the Eastern Conference teams continue to dominate the upper-echelon of the standings, the west has perhaps provided us with the most volatile movement. Let's dig into this week's top-10. xx video xx 📸 Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images Phil Neville's side are now unbeaten in six consecutive MLS matches, and after a frankly chaotic 3-3 draw with LAFC over the weekend, they proved that they can absolutely hang with the big-boys under the light. There may some rumblings of disappointment in the Rose City after the Timbers gave up the lead on two separate occasions Saturday evening, both goals coming in stoppage-time of the respective halves. Cool. Collected. Santi Moreno. ✌️Portland leads 2-0. — Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 20, 2025 📸 Scott Wachter-Imagn Images After a short spell out of the top-10, Austin have jumped back into 9th thanks to a narrow win over the LA Galaxy, albeit a woeful LA Galaxy. Despite spending mega-bucks on their attacking ranks during the last-two offseasons, they have struggled mightily to get them going. However, for the first time this season Austin perhaps have scored a bundle of goals on their way to victory — they will settle for the three points though. Brandon Vazquez to the rescue late in the game. 🦸 — Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 19, 2025 📸 Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images LAFC feel as if they could be on the verge of breaking out one week, and the next they require a magical free-kick and stoppage-time penalty to rescue a point. But one thing is for sure, Steve Cherundolo's side remain as talented as any of the top teams in MLS and can put together a run at the drop of a hat. Denis Bouanga with the equalizer and tribute to the late Aaron Boupendza 🫶 — LAFC (@LAFC) April 20, 2025 📸 Matt Krohn-Imagn Images It may be harsh on Minnesota to fall a few places after a goalless draw with FC Dallas, but they are simply a victim of the teams around them making big strides in the last seven days. Eric Ramsay's team is as well-drilled as they come in MLS, but a little bit of star-dust can sometimes be lacking when they need it most. 📸 Amber Searls-Imagn Images After a slump in MLS in the midst of their Concacaf Champions Cup run, Cincinnati have a bounced back quite well, winning four in a row to remind the league why they remain one of the true MLS Cup contenders. Just give Cincinnati a few more weeks and they will keep on creeping up towards the top of the standings. Excellence from Evander. ⭐️ — FC Cincinnati (@fccincinnati) April 21, 2025 📸 Kyle Ross-Imagn Images The Union responded well to a min-slump with a superb 3-0 victory over Atlanta United, and thanks to their red-hot start to the season are still just three points out of top-spot in the Eastern Conference. And when you have the MLS golden boot leader up front, you'll always be in with a shout. Super-sub Tai Baribo scores his MLS-leading 7th goal for @PhilaUnion! 🔥 — Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 20, 2025 📸 Jason Miller - 2025 Getty Images The Crew drop in our rankings for the first time in a long time after a 'home' loss to Inter Miami. Columbus' lack of a ruthless number-nine was on full display in a game they dominated, but somehow found a way to draw a blank. 📸 - COLOMBUS CREW MISSES A 10000% CHANCE IN THE 94TH MINUTE OF THE GAME!UNBELIEVABLE LUCK FOR INTER MIAMI! — The Touchline | Football Coverage (@TouchlineX) April 19, 2025 📸 Scott Kinser-Imagn Images Dean Smith's side continue to roll and they impressed wholeheartedly in a thumping victory over San Diego on Saturday. That is now eight straight games at home without tasting defeat for Charlotte, and a pearly seat at the top of the Eastern Conference. "Watching games at the Bank, I get excited. I get a rush of adrenaline when I see shots of the crowd." - @DaxMcCarty11 There's a reason @CharlotteFC has won 8-straight games at home 🔥📢 — Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 22, 2025 📸 Scott Rovak-Imagn Images Vancouver may have only sat atop our rankings for one week but you can hang your hat on them making a return at some point this season. The high-flying 'Caps touched earth for 90 minutes in a hard-fought goalless draw with St. Louis City this past weekend, but you can't help but wonder if they have their sights set on a Concacaf Champions Cup showdown with Inter Miami later this week. 📸 Jason Miller - 2025 Getty Images Only 20 years old and already making magic! ✨Benjamin Cremaschi scores a beautiful flying header to put Inter Miami ahead vs the unbeaten Columbus Crew! 🔥 — OneFootball (@OneFootball) April 19, 2025 Speak of the devil, Inter Miami are back on top. They rode their luck in Cleveland on Saturday, but Javier Mascherano's side seemingly always find a way to win when the chips are down. 📸 Jason Mowry - 2025 Getty Images
