Sophie Howard (footballer)

Last updated

Sophie Howard
Sophie Howard 20180324 (cropped).jpg
Howard playing for TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in 2016
Personal information
Full name Sophie Louise Howard [1]
Date of birth (1993-09-17) 17 September 1993 (age 30)
Place of birth Hanau, Germany
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
Leicester City
Number 5
Youth career
Sportfreunde Oberau
SV Phönix Düdelsheim
College career
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2012–2014 UCF Knights 63 (3)
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2009–2012 1899 Hoffenheim 42 (1)
2013 Colorado Rapids Women
2014–2015 Colorado Pride
2015–2018 1899 Hoffenheim 63 (1)
2018–2020 Reading 17 (0)
2020– Leicester City 57 (1)
International career
2012 Germany U20 2 (0)
2017– Scotland 41 (3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13:27, 3 July 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 10:25, 29 September 2023 (UTC)

Sophie Louise Howard (born 17 September 1993) is a footballer who plays as a defender for FA Women's Super League club Leicester City. Born in Germany, she has been a member of the Scotland national team since 2017.

Contents

Club career

On 8 June 2020, Reading announced that Howard had left the club after her contract had expired. [2] In August 2020 Howard signed for Leicester City ahead of the 2020–21 FA Women's Championship season.

Sophie Howard (15) with Leicester City in April 2021 Lewes FC Women 1 Leicester City Women 0 25 04 2021-323 (51139561115).jpg
Sophie Howard (15) with Leicester City in April 2021

International career

Howard played twice for the Germany U20 national team in 2012. She was named in Germany's squad for the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Japan, but did not get to play in any matches. In 2016 she was called into a training camp for England's new "Next Gen" team. She said: "Although I was born and brought up in Germany it's always been my ambition to play for England, and hopefully I’ve now taken my first step." [3]

In March 2017 she was called up into the Scotland national team. The Scots had three injured defenders and were allowed to pick Howard because her grandfather is Scottish. [4] She made her senior international debut on 11 April 2017, as a 64th-minute substitute in a 5–0 friendly defeat by Belgium in Leuven. [5]

Career statistics

International appearances

Scotland statistics accurate as of match played 29 September 2023. [6]
Year Scotland
AppsGoals
201740
201880
201941
202030
202150
202290
202382
Total413

International goals

Scores and results list Scotland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Howard goal. [6]
List of international goals scored by Sophie Howard
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
128 May 2019 Hampden Park, Glasgow Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 3–23–2 Friendly
221 February 2023 Pinatar Arena, San Pedro del Pinatar Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 1–01–1 2023 Pinatar Cup
221 February 2023Hampden Park, GlasgowFlag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 1–11–1 2023–24 UEFA Women's Nations League


Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scotland women's national football team</span> Womens national association football team representing Scotland

The Scotland women's national football team represents Scotland in international women's football competitions. Since 1998, the team has been governed by the Scottish Football Association (SFA). Scotland qualified for the FIFA Women's World Cup for the first time in 2019, and for their first UEFA Women's Championship in 2017. As of June 2023, the team was placed 23rd in the FIFA Women's World Rankings. Although most national football teams represent a sovereign state, as a member of the United Kingdom's Home Nations, Scotland is permitted by FIFA statutes to maintain its own national side that competes in all major tournaments, with the exception of the Women's Olympic Football Tournament.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fara Williams</span> English footballer

Fara Tanya Franki Merrett, known professionally as Fara Williams, is an English former footballer who played as a midfielder. A consistent goalscorer and set-piece specialist, Williams was considered one of England's leading players.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucy Bronze</span> English footballer (born 1991)

Lucia Roberta Tough Bronze is an English professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Women's Super League club Chelsea and the England women's national team. She has previously played for Sunderland, Everton, Liverpool, Lyon, Manchester City and Barcelona as well as North Carolina at college level in the United States and Great Britain at the Olympics. Bronze has won a total of five Champions League titles, three with Lyon and two with Barcelona; three Women's Super League titles, with Liverpool and Manchester City, and the Euro 2022 with England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leicester City W.F.C.</span> Football club

Leicester City Women Football Club is an English professional women's football club based in Leicester. Founded in 2004 as an independent club, Leicester City Women were acquired in 2020 by King Power, the parent company of men's affiliate Leicester City FC. They currently compete in the FA Women's Super League, the first level of the English football pyramid.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jo Potter</span> English footballer and pundit

Josanne Potter is an English Association football Manager and former footballer who played as a midfielder, most recently for Reading. Originally a left-winger, she matured into a creative central midfield player. At club level Potter enjoyed three separate spells at Birmingham City Ladies and was noted for her crossing abilities and goalscoring record. She played in three FA Women's Cup finals – with Arsenal in 2004, Charlton Athletic in 2007 and Birmingham City in 2012. On the international stage, she often had to compete with Rachel Yankey and Sue Smith for a place on the left flank of the England team. After 2007 Potter worked as a BBC television football pundit. In June 2023, Potter was appointed the head coach of Rangers W.F.C.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jodie Taylor</span> English footballer

Jodie Lee Taylor is an English former professional footballer who last played as a striker for Arsenal of WSL. She began her club career with local team Tranmere Rovers and had brief spells in her home country with Birmingham City and Lincoln Ladies. A well-traveled player, she has also played abroad in the United States, Canada, Australia, Sweden and France.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emma Mukandi</span> Scottish footballer

Emma Mukandi is a Scottish professional footballer currently plays for FA WC club London City Lionesses. She began her senior career with Glasgow City then joined German Frauen-Bundesliga club SGS Essen. Primarily a defender, Mukandi has also played as a forward. Mukandi also plays for the Scotland women's national football team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leanne Crichton</span> Scottish footballer

Leanne Crichton is a Scottish international footballer who plays as a midfielder for Motherwell and the Scotland national team. She has previously played for Notts County in the FA WSL as well as Hibernian, Celtic, Whitehill Welfare/Edinburgh Ladies and Glasgow City. She is also a coach, and a media pundit for BBC Scotland's football coverage on radio and television.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jill Roord</span> Dutch footballer

Jill Jamie Roord is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Women's Super League club Manchester City and the Netherlands national team. She previously played for Arsenal in the English Women's Super League, Bayern Munich and VfL Wolfsburg in the German Frauen-Bundesliga and won multiple Dutch national titles with FC Twente in the top Dutch league. During the 2015–16 Eredivisie season, she was the top scorer in the league.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erin Cuthbert</span> Scottish footballer

Erin Jacqueline Cuthbert is a Scottish professional footballer who plays for Chelsea in the FA WSL and is a member of the Scotland national team. She studied at University of the West of Scotland, combining graduation from the Open University with being a professional football player.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Millie Bright</span> English footballer (born 1993)

Millie Bright is an English professional footballer who plays as a defender for Women's Super League club Chelsea who she captains, and the England national team. She previously played for Doncaster Belles and Leeds Ladies, and represented England on the under-19 and under-23 national teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mary Earps</span> English footballer (born 1993)

Mary Alexandra Earps is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Première Ligue club Paris Saint-Germain and the England national team. 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. Earps was announced the winner of 2023 BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vaila Barsley</span> English footballer

Vaila Marie Barsley is a Scottish football defender.

Lucy Hope is a Scottish footballer who plays as a midfielder for Everton in the FA WSL and the Scotland national team. She has previously played for Forfar Farmington and Hibernian in Scotland, Mallbackens in Sweden and Bristol City in England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alessia Russo</span> English footballer (born 1999)

Alessia Mia Teresa Russo is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Women's Super League club Arsenal and the England national team. She previously played club football for Chelsea, Brighton & Hove Albion and Manchester United, as well as college soccer for North Carolina Tar Heels. At United, Russo won awards from the club including Player of the Year and Goal of the Season, and was twice top scorer. She has also been awarded Player of the Month and Goal of the Month in the WSL.

Rachel McLauchlan is a Scottish footballer, who plays as a winger and defender for Brighton & Hove Albion and for the Scotland women's national football team. She previously played for Inverness CTS, Aberdeen, Hibernian, Yeovil Town in England's Women's Super League, Glasgow City and Rangers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lauren James</span> English footballer

Lauren Elizabeth James is an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Women's Super League (WSL) club Chelsea and the England women's national team. James started her senior career with Arsenal in 2017 before joining Manchester United in 2018 and winning the Championship. Since joining Chelsea in 2021, she has twice won the WSL and FA Cup with the club, and was awarded the PFA Women's Young Player of the Year for the 2022–2023 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aimee Palmer</span> English footballer

Aimee Rose Palmer is an English footballer who played as a midfielder for Leicester City in the Women's Super League. She has previously played for Manchester United, Sheffield United and Bristol City in the Championship, and has represented England at under-17, under-19 and under-21 level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emily Ramsey</span> English footballer

Emily Jo Ramsey is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Everton in the Women's Super League and the England under-23 team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sandy MacIver</span> English association football player

Alexandra Elena MacIver is a professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Women's Super League club Manchester City and the Scotland national team. She has previously played for Everton. MacIver represented England once in 2021 before switching her international allegiance to Scotland in 2023.

References

  1. "FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Japan 2012 List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. 14 September 2012. p. 5. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
  2. "🙏 Reading FC Women issue thanks as out of contract players depart". Reading F.C. 8 June 2020. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
  3. Leighton, Tony (23 August 2016). "Howard's way is a boost for Next Gen coach Spacey". The League Paper. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
  4. Lindsay, Clive (29 March 2017). "Scotland women: Signeul hopes to add Barsley and Howard to squad to face Belgium". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
  5. "Under-strength Scotland fall to Belgium". Scottish Football Association. 12 April 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2017. Anna Signeul made a further change on the 64th minute, replacing one debutant with another, as the impressive Vaila Barsley made way for Sophie Howard.
  6. 1 2 Sophie Howard at the Scottish Football Association