Mary Earps, the renowned goalkeeper for the England women’s national football team, recently revealed the tensions that influenced her initial decision to retire from international football. The 30-year-old superstar had been a workhorse for England, helping the team reach the finals of the 2023 World Cup where they ultimately lost to Spain. That’s different from my personal issues with the communication from head coach, Sarina Wiegman and how the team is dealing with Hannah Hampton’s role.
Earps revealed that she confronted Wiegman about rewarding what she perceived as “bad behaviour” following the coach’s decision to reinstate Hampton as England’s number one goalkeeper. During a crucial conversation, Earps stated, “I don’t get it. It doesn’t make me feel comfortable.” Anderson felt that Hampton’s reinstatement to the team was unmerited. This negativity combined with her growing accomplishments made her doubt that her own contributions were not being invalidated.
Although Earps had made public her decision to retire from international duty, she eventually chose to reverse her decision. In May, she attended the Champions League final to support her England teammates, which seemed to reignite her passion for the sport. In the wake of the event, she called Wiegman to let her know about the 180. She responded with unbroken bravado when saying, “fine, I’ll run,” after the news that she had lost her pole position.
In response, Wiegman chose to give Hampton “a second chance.” She told Earps that Hampton would be starting over her in the next Euro 2025 qualifying match, away to Sweden in April 2024. This decision came after Hampton’s impressive performances, including saving two penalties that contributed significantly to England’s victory over Spain in the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 final.
The conflict between Earps and Wiegman boiled over when Earps took to social media to air her frustration with the lack of communication regarding these sorts of decisions. “I just think you could have been more direct and honest from the jump,” she commented. Wiegman defended her approach: “No, I don’t think that’s fair. I always communicate openly. We’ve only just made this decision.”
Through all of the drama, Earps held her spot as England’s number one. She was the glue holding everything together and responsible for their magical run at the 2023 World Cup. Her performances won her national acclaim and established her place in the team. The continued feud with Wiegman continued to roil the situation.
It all really got personal though, when Earps opened up about her life outside of football. She shared these personal experiences as a part of her autobiography, entitled “All In.” It was the first time she had publicly spoken about her same-sex relationship. This aspect of her life had been kept secret until now. In doing so, this announcement shined a huge spotlight on her journey as a player and an individual.
As events unfolded, Earps found herself grappling with feelings of betrayal and dissatisfaction regarding the team’s direction and leadership decisions. She expressed frustration during discussions with Wiegman regarding Hampton’s selection: “That sounded like b****** to me. Darren didn’t look up from the floor the whole time.”
Continuing this conversation in a separate interview, Earps really challenged Wiegman on their differing point of view. “Respectfully, we’re going to have to agree to disagree. You’ve made your decision. I’ve had to make one too. This will be my last camp; I’m internationally retiring,” she told Wiegman at one point, showcasing her resolve amidst a turbulent relationship.
In September, following England’s successful run and Hampton’s standout performances, Earps presented her teammate with the inaugural women’s Yashin trophy, acknowledging Hampton’s contributions while navigating her own complicated feelings about team dynamics and leadership.
The apparent discord hung in the air, unresolved, forcing Earps to make a crucially bold decision. After five highly productive years with Manchester United, she transferred to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the summer of 2024. At the start of this year, her remarkable dedication to women’s football earned her an MBE. Her commitment to the game has received national accolades and deservedly so.
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