Aston Villa striker Rachel Daly shut down insinuations that her recent retirement from international duty was due to England boss Sarina Wiegman ’s resistance to using her up front.
Daly, 32, shocked the footballing world upon announcing that she would retire from England duty just hours after coming on as a substitute in the Lionesses ’ 2-0 Euro 2025 qualification win over the Republic of Ireland.
In a statement posted to social media, the Villa star owed her decision to “passing the baton to the next generation”. She also confirmed she will remain focussed on her club career.
Speculation has swirled around the decision, with many suggesting that Daly’s decision stems from Wiegman’s reluctance to use the striker in her natural position up top. The England boss has preferred Arsenal ’s Alessia Russo, 25, in the position.
And during England’s frustrating 1-1 draw with Sweden in their Euro 2025 qualification opener, she pushed Manchester City winger Lauren Hemp through the middle after Russo’s substitution, leaving Daly – last season’s Women’s Super League Golden Boot winner – on the bench.
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Yet Daly, who was deployed at left-back throughout England’s triumphant Euro 2022 campaign and along the left flank during their historic Women’s World Cup run last summer, insisted that “frustrations” with Wiegman over position and playing time were not the root cause of her retirement.
“I’m not sure frustrated is the right word,” Daly told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast on Friday morning. “I’ve always said that representing your country is the biggest honour and if that means playing in goal, I’d do it – probably not very well but I’d give it a good go.
She added: “Obviously I know that my strengths are higher up the pitch but if someone said you can play for England in any position you’d bite their hand off to take the opportunity. In recent times I’ve been used more as a striker but I’ve played a part in creating history in women’s football. That was something I wanted to do. Whether that was left-back, right-back, up top, it was an opportunity I could never pass up on.”
The Euro 2022 winner announced her retirement from international duty at the age of 32 and with 84 caps for the Lionesses ((Photo by Naomi Baker - The FA/The FA via Getty Images))Daly’s versatility has often been cited as both a boon and a curse, though the emergence of Chelsea ’s Niamh Charles and Jess Carter to operate along the left flank has meant Daly’s versatility has not been as necessary.
Asked whether she held conversations with Wiegman over her position, Daly said: “We had conversations about it all the time and she had her thoughts and I had mine. Together we came up with a good plan and it was whatever the team needed at that time.”
Daly confirmed that the announcement not only shocked fans but her England teammates, whom she told after the victory over Ireland. However, the former Houston Dash star also said the decision was one she’d contemplated for some time.
“I didn’t give them the news until after the Ireland game the other night. I think they’ll be sad to see me go but it’s something I needed to do for myself and it felt like the right time,” she said.
“It’s something that I’ve been thinking about. I’m quite an impulsive person should I say. I make decisions quite quickly in my life but this is probably the only one I’ve actually really mulled over. They always say when you know you know and I think now is the right time.”
She added: “I’m not getting any younger, I’m 32. I’ve spent a large portion of my career living away from home, living in America for 10 years. Life throws a lot of things at you and family is the constant and I’ve not given enough to them and hopefully this can enhance my club career as well.”
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