Liverpool defender and Women s Super League (WSL) record appearance maker Gilly Flaherty has announced her retirement from playing at the age of 31 for family reasons.
Flaherty made 177 WSL appearances with Arsenal, Chelsea, West Ham and Liverpool, whom she joined last July.
She brings down the curtain on a career that saw her win four WSL titles, seven Women s FA Cups and the Women s Champions League in 2007.
London-born Flaherty, who also won nine caps for England, took the decision to hang up her boots following the recent death of her father.
A record breaker and history maker
We wish you all the best in retirement, Gilly Flaherty!
— Barclays Women s Super League (@BarclaysWSL)
It isn t a decision I ve taken lightly …
The Women’s Super League and Championship are preparing to break free from the Football Association after the top two tiers unanimously agreed to be governed by a new, independent body from next season.
Former Nike and Citigroup executive Nikki Doucet has been appointed to lead the organisation, NewCo, effective immediately, and will oversee plans for all 24 clubs to move into the new governance structure ahead of the 2024-25 campaign.
Each club who participates in the WSL and Championship will act as shareholders under the NewCo model, which has long been in the works and is seen as an important step in growing what an independent review concluded this summer has potential to become a billion-pound domestic women’s football industry within 10 years.
The and…
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Looking to lay down another Group B marker and put one foot in the knockout stage, England will meet the USA on Friday night at the Al Bayt Stadium.
England
Starting with England, while the Three Lions might have opened this year s World Cup in the midst of an extended blip, Gareth Southgate s men laid down a real marker earlier in the week. Putting on a thumping display in Doha as they breezed their way to a 6-2 romp against Iran, the European giants will be desperate to use that as a platform to build on. Tipped as the leading contender to claim top spot in Group B, England will now be hoping to find some stability at the back. Signing off their pre-World Cup preparations with an action-packed 3-3 draw against Germany during Septembe…
Carlos Queiroz has demanded Jurgen Klinsmann resign from his FIFA position after making a string of accusations about Iran s World Cup team, labelling the German s comments a disgrace .
Iran head coach Queiroz reacted after his team were accused by Klinsmann of having worked the referee during the 2-0 win against Wales on Friday.
Working as a BBC pundit, Klinsmann suggested Iran getting to the match officials and pushing the boundaries of acceptability was part of their culture .
In response, Queiroz suggested California-based Klinsmann s outrageous remarks stemmed from his American/German background.
He said Klinsmann should visit Iran s training camp to learn more about the team, but must step down from FIFA s World Cup technical study group beforehand.…
Liverpool and Manchester City are doing battle for the Premier League title and both sides also remain in the hunt for the Champions League.
The Reds face Porto on Wednesday, holding a 2-0 advantage from the first leg, and Jurgen Klopp will be hoping for a repeat of their rampant 5-0 victory at Estadio do Dragao in last season s round of 16 a game in which Sadio Mane starred.
City, meanwhile, host Tottenham, with Pep Guardiola s side having to comeback from a 1-0 deficit, though Mauricio Pochettino will have to do without Harry Kane, who was injured in the first leg.
Here are some essential Opta Facts as we close in on the business end of the competition.
Porto v Liverpool
3 Mane scored a hat-trick for Liverpool versus Porto last term…
St Johnstone have signed Kerr Smith on loan and striker Benjamin Kimpioka on a permanent deal, subject to international clearance.
Aston Villa announced 19-year-old Scottish central defender Kerr has signed a new contract before making the loan switch back north for the remainder of the season.
Saints also confirmed 23-year-old Swedish forward Kimpioka, who previously had a spell at Sunderland, has joined on an 18-month contract from AIK.
Smith will join up with Craig Levein’s squad immediately, although St Johnstone’s cinch Premiership game against Dundee at Dens Park has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
He began his senior career with Dundee United and made 12 first-team appearances, making his debut at Ibrox at the age of 16, before signi…
Thomas Tuchel hopes to have a fully-fit Chelsea squad for the EFL Cup final against Liverpool after Hakim Ziyech and Mateo Kovacic recovered from knocks, while Reece James could also return.
Ziyech and Kovacic were both doubtful for the Wembley showpiece after picking up injuries in Chelsea s routine 2-0 Champions League win over Lille in midweek, while James has not appeared since December 29.
Chelsea are seeking their fourth trophy under Tuchel, having already won the Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup, and the FIFA Club World Cup.
The Blues will also be the first team in English football history to compete in one of the major domestic cup finals (League Cup/FA Cup) in six consecutive campaigns on Sunday, having reached FA Cup finals in 2017, 2018, 2020 an…
Having joined Chelsea from RB Leipzig last summer, Christopher Nkunku missed a large chunk of the season so far through a knee injury. He recovered in time to appear in the final three games of 2023, but now he is injured again, and manager Mauricio Pochettino has expressed concern about the situation with the 26-year-old forward.
I am a little worried with the situation
Mauricio Pochettino on Christopher Nkunku s hip injury, who recently returned to the squad after a long-term injury and is now set for another period on the sidelines
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews)
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Romelu Lukaku has decided to continue playing in Europe, according to Fabrizio Romano, despite receiving a lucrative offer from a Saudi club. The 30-year-old striker, whose loan with Inter Milan from Chelsea officially expires at the end of the month, doesn t believe his time to leave European football has come.
Lukaku shone for Inter in his previous spell there, helping the Nerazzurri win the 2020/21 Scudetto, and though his loan back with the Serie A giants hasn t exactly gone as well, it has certainly gone better than 2021/22 with Chelsea. He scored 14 goals and produced seven assists in 37 matches across all competitions for Simone Inzaghi s side.
The 107-cap Belgium international is now due back at Stamford Bridge where he s under contract until 2026, with no agree…
Liverpool moved above Manchester City at the top of the Premier League with a 2-0 win over Watford in Saturday s early kick-off at Anfield.
The Reds knew that victory would see them leapfrog City, who face Burnley later in the day, for the first time since November 27 – even if only for a matter of hours.
Diogo Jota headed in from a Joe Gomez cross after 22 minutes to open the scoring and substitute Fabinho sealed a battling win with a penalty in the final minute.
Liverpool have now won 10 league games in a row ahead of next weekend s huge showdown with City, who are two points worse off with their game at Turf Moor to come.
Watford more than held their own in the early stages of the game and would have been in front if not for a good stop from Alisson…