Veteran defender Steph Houghton has has announced her retirement from football at the end of the 2023/24 season.
Houghton, 35, has already completed ten years at the club having signed in January 2014 and will bring down the curtain on an illustrious 20 year career this May.
She is already City’s record appearance maker with 241 in all competitions, winning eight major trophies in her time at the club from a career total of 16 pieces of silverware.
The last remaining member of the City’s original professional side, Houghton also featured twice in the Barclays Women’s Super League Team of the Year.
The first of those came after she lifted the 2014 Continental Cup Final under the stewardship of Nick Cushing.
Her first WSL title followed in 2016, with City proving invincible in the league in a season that also ended with a second League Cup trophy.
The following year City lifted the FA Cup after a 4-1 win over Birmingham City.
Houghton became the City first player to reach 100 appearances for the club in 2018 and followed that with a 200th appearance against Everton in 2021.
In the meantime the silverware kept coming with a domestic Cup double in the 2018/19 season with an FA Cup win over West Ham and Conti Cup win over Arsenal respectively.
City lifted the FA Cup again in November 2020 when Gareth Taylor’s side beat Everton while 2022 saw City lift a fourth Conti Cup – their most recent trophy.
This season is proving to be a close title race with City neck and neck with Chelsea for what would be a fitting tribute to the longevity and leadership of a Club legend.
Head Coach Gareth Taylor paid tribute to Houghton, saying: “Steph is – without question – an icon of the game.
“Although her professional career on the pitch is now coming to an end, her legacy will be felt for so many years to come.
“She’s paved the way for so many to thrive in the future.
“Steph has lived and breathed football for such a long time, and she leaves it in the strongest place it has ever been – a true testament to her leadership, hard work, talent, and dedication.
“I feel incredibly privileged to have been able to work with her since 2020 and know her name will be written into the history books as a true footballing great.
“Steph will excel in whatever she puts her mind to, and on behalf of everyone here at Manchester City, I’d like to express our immense gratitude and wish Steph all the very best for the future.”
Managing Director Charlotte O’Neill echoed Taylor’s sentiment, adding: “Players like Steph are incredibly special.
“What she has done – and continues to do – for women’s football both on and off the pitch, has been incredible.
“Steph is truly someone who deserves to be remembered as a legend of the game, and I have no doubt she will continue making her mark as she embarks on this new chapter of her life and career.
“She will always have the support of her City family, wherever that takes her.”