Steph Houghton: Man City and England legend to retire at end of season

Manchester City Women captain Steph Houghton is set to retire from football at the end of the season.

Houghton joined the Blues from Arsenal in 2014 and signed a new one-year deal last summer. The 35-year-old is one of the most decorated English players of all time, having won three Women's Super League (WSL) titles, five FA Cups and seven League Cups across her club career.

Houghton also captained England and has 121 caps for her country, leading the Lionesses to third place at the 2015 World Cup. Announcing her retirement on social media on Wednesday, the defender said: "There is no easy way to say it, but I am retiring from football at the end of the current WSL season.

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"Taking the decision to retire is such a difficult thing to do. Whilst age comes to every player, it makes it no easier having to say the words out loud. Football has been my life; my passion and I have loved the career I have had.

"I would like to thank every teammate I have ever played with; I have continued to learn every day and appreciate the support each has given me and the friendships I have made along the way. To my managers, coaches and all the staff I have worked with and under, I appreciate the time, effort and work you have dedicated to improving my game and the standards of women's football.

"I hope that I leave the game in a better place than when I started, and that I have contributed in some small way giving the girls of tomorrow a better future in football."

Houghton started her career at Sunderland before moving to Leeds and then to Arsenal. She has made