Rachel Corsie, Scotland's captain, announces her retirement from professional football.
In a heartfelt announcement, Scotland women's football captain Rachel Corsie has declared her retirement from the sport after the upcoming Nations League fixtures against Austria and the Netherlands. The 35-year-old, who has represented her nation for 12 years, has endured a tough season marred by injuries and will bring her 19-year career to a close after the upcoming games.
Corsie, who has won 154 caps since her Scotland debut against France in 2009, has been sidelined for much of the season due to injury. She made only two appearances for Aston Villa before parting ways with the club earlier this month. In a statement, Corsie highlighted her persistent injuries and "chronic pain" as the main reasons for her decision to retire.
Speaking about her retirement, Corsie expressed mixed emotions. "This has been the hardest decision that I've ever made," she said, "But I know this is the right moment for me." Corsie reflected on the pride she felt in leading Scotland for so many years and in playing a part in the growth of the women's game in Scotland.
Corsie began her career with Aberdeen and has represented teams including Glasgow City, Seattle Reign, and Utah Royals. Following her move to Aston Villa in January 2022, she made 57 appearances for the Women's Super League side. Corsie was appointed Scotland captain in 2017 and represented the nation in their 2017 European Championship campaign as well as the 2019 World Cup.
Scotland currently sits at the bottom of Group A1 in the Nations League, having lost all four of their matches so far. Corsie's final professional appearances will be for Scotland in the Nations League, providing a fitting stage for her to retire from international football. She described returning to play after knee surgery in October as a personal achievement, highlighting her commitment and love for the game.
In a moving farewell, Corsie expressed pride in her career and gratitude for the opportunity to end it by representing Scotland in the Nations League. "Potentially being able to play my final minutes in the game in a Scotland shirt means the world and it's a really fitting way to bring the curtain down on my career in the professional game," she said.
Corsie's retirement marks the end of an illustrious career, one that brought success, leadership, and influence to women's football in Scotland. The defender's legacy includes a long list of accomplishments, from leading Scotland to major finals to winning multiple trophies with Glasgow City and forging a career that spanned nearly two decades at the highest levels of the women's game.
After a career spanning almost two decades, Rachel Corsie, the defender and former Scotland women's football captain, will retire from the sport following the upcoming Nations League fixtures against Austria and the Netherlands. Beyond football, Corsie expresses an interest in exploring health-and-wellness and womens-health, given her past experiences and the knowledge gained from years in the sport, potentially contributing to the science of sports medicine.
