Toni Duggan, the former England forward, says her career has been more than she could ever have dreamed of as she announces retirement from Football. The 33-year-old football player has enjoyed her Football career spanning 17 years.
She amassed 79 caps for her country and has played for some of the world’s biggest clubs. Toni Duggan has played in the World Cup semi-finals, the biggest cup finals in the domestic game, and the Champions League finals.
She started and ended at Everton and she has also played for Manchester City, Atletico Madrid, and Barcelona.
Duggan said that she is proud of becoming a part of changing the perception of women’s Football in the country.
Duggan told BBC Sport that she saw an old interview when she was 27 and playing in Spain, and they asked what her biggest fear was. Duggan replied, ‘Retirement’.
She also added in her statement that it is weird now, sitting here and today is the day. She said that she had been so lucky with the career she had and she had loved every single minute.
Duggan said in the interview that she just thinks it made her the person she is. She added that she was a little girl who grew up on the streets of Liverpool and wanted to play Football. She also said that she wanted to be accepted.
Duggan told the interviewer that they had to fight for everything they wanted, but when she looked back, the journey had just been more than she could ever have dreamed of.
She thanks everyone who has played their part including family, friends, coaches, and everyone involved.
Retirement is a moment many Footballers fear, but Duggan has no immediate plan. Duggan knows she wants to stay in the game. Retirement has offered Duggan a chance to reflect on her achievements and what made her most proud.
She added that she always knew that she wanted to play Football. However, people said, “I couldn’t because it was not professional”.
Beyond looking forward to eating a roast dinner with her family on Sunday afternoon, Duggan said that yet she has not decided what she will embark on next.
But, she added that she had enjoyed punditry and was open to more of that. She likes to pass on advice to the young players.
She said that she could sit here now saying, ‘I don’t want to do coaching’. However, 10 years from now she could be a manager. She doesn’t want to say ‘never’ to any opportunity.
She is already enjoying her favourite role, being a mum. Duggan said that having those trophies and memories is nice. Her daughter makes retirement easier, ‘She does make it (retiring) easier’.
Duggan said that her daughter has given her a focus and direction. So, after this, even if she just be a woman, that’s the best job in the world.