Aston Villa Women: Rachel Daly sends message after international retirement
Aston Villa Women’s striker Rachel Daly has retired from international football, confirming the news in a heartfelt post on X after 84 England caps.
Daly said “It has been the greatest honour” to wear the England jersey and wished she could play for her country forever.
The attacker joined Villa in 2022 and netted 30 goals in as many appearances during her first season, and on the international stage has netted 16 goals across 84 matches for England, winning EURO 2022.
In her post on X, Daly said: “I am very fortunate to have played a small part in making history with the Lionesses, and I feel now is the right time to pass on that baton to the next generation.”
Daly departs England with head held high
The last few years have seen women’s football reach new heights in the UK, and a large part of that is down to the Lionesses, who broke England’s 56-year trophy drought on the international stage with their Women’s European Championship victory on home soil.
Daly started every match at left-back for the Lionesses as they set off on an unstoppable run to the final, and invoked the spirit of 1966 by beating Germany after extra time at Wembley.
That summer coincided with newfound exposure for the women’s domestic game and Daly’s permanent return to English shores, signing a three-year deal with Aston Villa after seven seasons with Houston Dash in the NWSL.
The Harrogate-born utility player took her game to new heights in claret and blue, winning the WSL Golden Boot with 22 goals in as many games to equal the league record set by Vivianne Miedema.
Having emerged as a free-scoring striker, Daly went to the 2023 Women’s World Cup as England’s number nine, scoring against China in the group stages and their quarter-final penalty shootout against Nigeria.
England reached the final once more but lost to Spain in a nail-biting match. It was a crushing defeat that showed they haven’t yet reached the top of the mountain, but thanks to the contributions of Daly, she leaves the Lionesses in good stead, ready to lead a pride of her own at Villa Park.
In other Aston Villa news, Ollie Watkins is keeping Villa’s Champions League hopes alive.
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