Steph Houghton

Steph Houghton
MBE
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*
Years Team Apps (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  England
FIFA Women's World Cup
Bronze medal – third place 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, /ˈhoʊtən/,[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]

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]

  1. ^ a b "Women's Olympic Football Tournament Tokyo 2020: Squad list, Great Britain" (PDF). FIFA. 7 July 2021. p. 6. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015: List of players: England" (PDF). FIFA. 6 July 2015. p. 10. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  3. ^ Hubbard, Alan (22 May 2011). "Houghton is football's Jill of all trades". The Independent. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2011.
  4. ^ "Steph Houghton confirms how to pronounce her surname after years of commentators getting it wrong". Sunderland Echo. 9 March 2023. Archived from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  5. ^ Oatway, Caroline. "Steph Houghton: A true blue leader". Manchester City. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  6. ^ BBC News (27 March 2024). "Steph Houghton: Manchester City defender and ex-England captain to retire". yahoo.com. Archived from the original on 15 April 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  7. ^ "Stephanie Houghton". The FA. Archived from the original on 31 July 2017. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  8. ^ "No. 61450". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 2015. p. N20.
  9. ^ "Steph Houghton, Gary Bennett and Jill Scott given freedom of Sunderland". BBC News Tyne and Wear. 9 March 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2023.
  10. ^ "Photograph's of Steph Houghton's Freedom of the City Ceremony". Twitter. 9 March 2023. Retrieved 10 March 2023.