Steph Houghton

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Steph Houghton
MBE
Arsenal LFC v Kelly Smith All-Stars XI (189) (cropped).jpg
Houghton in 2017
Personal information
Full name Stephanie Jayne Darby [1]
Birth name Stephanie Jayne Houghton [2]
Date of birth (1988-04-23) 23 April 1988 (age 36) [2]
Place of birth Durham, England [3]
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.74 m) [2]
Position(s) Centre-back
Youth career
Sunderland
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2002–2007 Sunderland 61 (24)
2007–2010 Leeds Carnegie 47 (9)
2010–2013 Arsenal 39 (7)
2014–2024 Manchester City 138 (17)
International career
2008 England U19 4 (0)
2010 England U23 3 (0)
2007–2021 England 121 (13)
2012–2021 Great Britain 8 (3)
Medal record
Women's football
Representing Flag of England.svg  England
FIFA Women's World Cup
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2015 Canada
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 04:05, 19 May 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23 February 2021

Stephanie Jayne Darby [1] MBE ( née  Houghton, /ˈhtən/ , [4] born 23 April 1988), commonly known as Steph Houghton, is an English former professional footballer who played as a centre-back. Known for her leadership and commitment, Houghton was widely regarded as one of the best centre-backs in the world during her career. [5] [6]

Contents

At club level, Houghton started at Sunderland in her native North East England, before moving on to Leeds Carnegie in 2007, where she won the FA Women's Premier League Cup. In 2010, she joined Arsenal Ladies, where she won the FA WSL on two occasions and is a two-time winner of the FA Women's Cup and three-time winner of the FA WSL Cup. She broke into the Sunderland team as a striker before moving back into midfield and later into defence.

Since her debut in 2007, Houghton has played over 100 times for England women's national team. [7] She suffered serious injuries immediately before the 2007 World Cup and Euro 2009, but recovered to play in the 2011 World Cup and Euro 2013. She was made England captain in January 2014, and went on to captain her country at two World Cups and a Women's Euro, earning a bronze medal at the 2015 World Cup. At the 2012 Summer Olympics, Houghton scored three goals in Great Britain's four games, including winners against New Zealand and Brazil. She represented Great Britain again in the 2020 Summer Olympics.

Houghton was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2016 New Year Honours for services to football. [8] She was awarded the Freedom of the City of Sunderland on 8 March 2023. [9] [10]

Club career

Houghton began her career playing for five years at Sunderland. [11] She helped Sunderland to win promotion from the Northern Division in 2005–06 and then won the FA Young Player of the Year Award in 2006–07. After Sunderland were relegated that season, Houghton became a target for Arsenal and Everton. [12] She eventually joined Leeds Carnegie. [12] After helping Leeds win the 2010 FA Women's Premier League Cup, Houghton signed for Arsenal in August of that year. [13]

On 5 December 2013, it was announced that Houghton had signed an agreement to leave Arsenal for new WSL side Manchester City on 1 January 2014. [14] Houghton signed a two-year contract extension with Manchester City on 24 January 2020. [15]

On 27 March 2024, Houghton announced that she would retire from football at the end of the 2023–24 season. [16] She played her final game on 18 May, coming on for Alex Greenwood and taking the captain armband in the 66th minute of a 2–1 away league win over Aston Villa. [17] [18]

International career

England

External video
YouTube 2024.svg
England Football
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg Steph Houghton's Journey: From Backyard Football to England Captain

Houghton was involved with England at U16 schools, U19, U20, U21 and U23 level. She was called into the full squad for a match against Germany on 25 October 2006, when Katie Chapman withdrew with an illness.[ citation needed ] She was an unused substitute in the 5–1 defeat in Aalen. [19] She made her debut in the next match, replacing Emily Westwood after 73 minutes of a 6–0 win over Russia in Milton Keynes on 8 March 2007. [20] Her first start came three days later, in a 1–0 win over Scotland at Adams Park. [21] She missed the 2007 World Cup with a broken leg and Euro 2009 with a damaged cruciate ligament. [22]

Houghton captaining England against Montenegro in April 2014 Choice of Ends England Ladies v Montenegro 5 4 2014 153.jpg
Houghton captaining England against Montenegro in April 2014

In May 2009, Houghton was one of the first 17 female players to be given central contracts by The Football Association. [23] She played in all three games at UEFA Women's Euro 2013 as England finished in last place; she described the result as "a massive disappointment personally and collectively as a squad." [24] In January 2014, she was named the new captain for England's team under coach Mark Sampson, beginning on a 1–1 draw with Norway. [25]

For the 2015 World Cup in Canada, Houghton was again named England's team captain. [26] Houghton scored her first World Cup goal against Norway in the round of 16, [27] and was chosen Player of the Match during the quarterfinals with Canada, which qualified England for their first semi-finals ever. [28]

Houghton earned her 100th England cap on 11 November 2018 against Sweden at New York Stadium in Rotherham, South Yorkshire. [29] [30] In May 2019, it was announced that Houghton had been selected for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France. [31] She scored a goal in the Round of 16 match against Cameroon. [32]

Houghton was allotted 164 when the FA announced their legacy numbers scheme to honour the 50th anniversary of England's inaugural international. [33]

Great Britain

Houghton was called up to the first Great Britain women's side for the 2012 Summer Olympics as a defender. She became the team's record goalscorer from the left–back position, scoring in all three group games to help Great Britain to win the group with a 100% record, as well as making important challenges to help ensure the side progressed without conceding a goal. Houghton was also named left back of the tournament due to her outstanding performance during the games. [34]

She represented Great Britain again at the 2020 Summer Olympics, featuring three times during the tournament. [35] [36] [37]

In October 2014, Houghton was the first female player to appear on the cover of Shoot magazine. [38] In the summer of 2024, she joined BBC Sport as an analyst for the new football season appearing on 5Live and Football Focus. [39]

Personal life

Houghton is married to former Bradford City defender Stephen Darby. [40] They married on 21 June 2018. [41] On 18 September 2018, Darby announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 29 after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease. [40] She was recognised as one of the BBC's 100 women of 2017. [42]

In March 2023, Houghton received the Freedom of the City of Sunderland; at the ceremony, the Sunderland Echo asked how to pronounce her surname. Throughout her career, it has been typically pronounced as /ˈhɔːtən/ (HAW-tən), something which the newspaper reported "has irritated [her] for years", as she pronounces it as it is in the town name Houghton-le-Spring: /ˈhtən/ (HOH-tən). [4]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 18 May 2024 [43] [44]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA CupLeague CupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Sunderland 2004–05 FA WPL Northern2216002216
2005–06 Women's Premier League 16130191
2006–07 Women's Premier League23710247
Total6124406524
Leeds Carnegie 2007–08 Women's Premier League14200142
2008–09 Women's Premier League18520205
2009–10 Women's Premier League15200152
Total47920499
Arsenal 2011 Women's Super League 121403140232
2012 Women's Super League141205240253
2013 Women's Super League135415140267
Total3971011341207412
Manchester City 2014 Women's Super League1302071221
2015 Women's Super League1131061184
2016 Women's Super League162304020252
2017 Women's Super League80410030151
2017–18 Women's Super League152107081313
2018–19 Women's Super League203216010294
2019–20 Women's Super League162206040282
2020–21 Women's Super League162103030232
2021–22 Women's Super League5100202091
2022–23 Women's Super League142206020242
2023–24 Women's Super League40104090
Total1381719251225123322
Career total2855729370637142167

    International

    Statistics accurate as of match played 27 July 2021.
    Year England Great Britain
    AppsGoalsAppsGoals
    2007?0
    2008?0
    2009?1
    2010?0
    2011?1
    2012?353
    2013101
    2014111
    2015141
    2016121
    2017152
    201860
    2019172
    202030
    20211030
    Total1211383
    For England
    Scores and results list England's goal tally first.
    GoalDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
    1.5 March 2009 GSZ Stadium, Larnaca, CyprusFlag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 4–06–0 2009 Cyprus Cup
    2.22 September 2011 County Ground, Swindon, EnglandFlag of Slovenia.svg  Slovenia 3–04–0 Euro 2013 qualifying
    3.31 March 2012Sajmište, Vrbovec, CroatiaFlag of Croatia.svg  Croatia 5–06–0
    4.6–0
    5.20 October 2012 Stade Sébastien Charléty, Paris, FranceFlag of France.svg  France 1–02–2Friendly
    6.6 March 2013 GSP Stadium, Nicosia, CyprusFlag of Italy.svg  Italy 2–24–2 2013 Cyprus Cup
    7.14 June 2014 Traktar Stadium, Minsk, BelarusFlag of Belarus.svg  Belarus 2–03–0 2015 World Cup qualifying
    8.22 June 2015 Lansdowne Stadium, Ottawa, CanadaFlag of Norway.svg  Norway 1–12–1 2015 World Cup
    9.25 October 2016 Estadio Pedro Escartín, Guadalajara, SpainFlag of Spain.svg  Spain 2–02–1Friendly
    10.24 November 2017 Bescot Stadium, Walsall, EnglandFlag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina 1–04–0 2019 World Cup qualifying
    11.3–0
    12.2 March 2019 Nissan Stadium, Nashville, United StatesFlag of the United States.svg  United States 1–12–2 2019 SheBelieves Cup
    13.23 June 2019 Stade du Hainaut, Valenciennes, FranceFlag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon 1–03–0 2019 World Cup
    For Great Britain
    Scores and results list Great Britain's goal tally first.
    #DateVenueOpponentResultCompetition
    125 July 2012 Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 1–0 2012 Olympic Games
    228 July 2012 Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon 3–0 2012 Olympic Games
    331 July 2012 Wembley Stadium, LondonFlag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 1–0 2012 Olympic Games

    Honours

    Houghton (right) with Ellen White and the FA WSL trophy Ellen White and Steph Houghton.JPG
    Houghton (right) with Ellen White and the FA WSL trophy

    Leeds Carnegie [13]

    Arsenal [45]

    Manchester City [45]

    England [45] [46] [47]

    See also

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