Karen Carney

Carney was named to the 2019 England World Cup Squad and earned her 141st cap in England's first match against Scotland.

On 5 July 2019, Carney announced that she would retire after the World Cup third-place final match against Sweden. England lost the match 2–1, and the match saw an Ellen White goal disallowed due to handball.

In October 2018, after Carney's ninth-minute penalty kick saw Chelsea labour to a 1–0 Champions League win over Fiorentina, she was subject to sexist online criticism by internet trolls.

Carney was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2017 New Year Honours for services to football.

Carney became the first woman to be inducted into Birmingham City's Hall of Fame in March 2015. She scored two penalties in Birmingham's 3–0 win at relegation-bound Bristol Academy in September 2015, to help secure the club's WSL 1 status.

In December 2015 Carney left Birmingham for the second time in her career, transferring to FA WSL champions Chelsea on a lucrative two-year contract. She was described as "world-class" by Chelsea coach Emma Hayes, who previously worked with Carney at Arsenal and Chicago Red Stars.

In May 2015, England manager Mark Sampson named Carney in his final squad for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, hosted in Canada. Carney scored in England's 2–1 group stage wins over Mexico and Colombia. England eventually finished third.

She received her 100th cap in a 3–0 loss to Germany at Wembley Stadium on 23 November 2014. She was the fourth English woman to reach that milestone.

Carney made her senior international debut in England's 4–1 victory over Italy in 2005, coming off the bench to score England's fourth goal. She became the youngest player to be handed a senior debut during Hope Powell's reign as England coach.

In June 2012 Carney was named in the 18-player Great Britain squad for the 2012 London Summer Olympics. She played in all four games as Great Britain were beaten 2–0 by Canada in the last eight.

When Chicago Red Stars folded ahead of their 2011 season, Carney re-signed for Birmingham City. She scored the winning goal and was Player of the Match in the 2012 FA Women's Cup Final. In October 2014 Carney was fined and received a one-match suspension for an incident in July when she told opposition player Natalia Pablos to "fuck off back to Spain". In the last game of the 2014 FA WSL season, she missed a penalty in Birmingham City's 2–2 draw with Notts County which cost them the league title.

Chicago Red Stars of the WPS made Carney their first signing on 27 January 2009. It was confirmed the following day by Arsenal.

In the inaugural 2009 Women's Professional Soccer season, Carney appeared in and started 17 games (1471 minutes) and scored two goals while assisting on another.

2008–2009 marked Carney's final season with Arsenal. She made 13 Premier League appearances and scored eight goals. In all competitions, she made 21 appearances and scored 12 goals.

She was selected by Chicago Red Stars in the third round (19th overall) of the 2008 WPS International Draft. She joined Head Coach Emma Hayes, who had served as Arsenal Ladies Football Club's first team assistant coach.

Carney joined Arsenal L.F.C. on 13 July 2006, and played a major part in the team that won four major honours in the 2006/07 season: the FA Women's Premier League, FA Women's Cup, FA Women's Premier League Cup, and the UEFA Women's Cup. She made 21 appearances in the Premier League in her first season and scored 10 goals. In all competitions, she made 36 appearances and scored 13 goals.

Twice named FA Young Player of the Year, Carney emerged at Birmingham City under the management of Marcus Bignot. After staying with the club for a further season following their financial collapse in 2005, she signed for Arsenal and experienced great success in 2006–07 – winning the UEFA Women's Cup and all three domestic trophies. Following two seasons in the US Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) with Chicago Red Stars, Carney rejoined Birmingham ahead of the 2011 FA WSL.

She then went on to become an integral part of the team at the UEFA Women's Euro 2005 later that year, including scoring a last-minute, game-winning goal in the 3–2 win over Finland, which earned her significant media attention.

Carney won the FA National Young Player of the Year award in 2005 and 2006. In August 2009 she was named in coach Hope Powell's squad for Euro 2009. In the semi-final win over the Netherlands, Powell utilised 20-year-old Jessica Clarke's pace and energy to tire the Dutch full-backs, before introducing substitute Carney to decisive effect.

Karen Julia Carney MBE (born 1 August 1987) is an English former professional footballer who played as a winger for Chelsea and the England national team. Since making her senior international debut in 2005, Carney became the second most capped England player, making 144 appearances, including at the 2005, 2009, 2013 and 2017 European Championships and the World Cup in 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2019. She also competed for the Great Britain team at the 2012 Summer Olympics.