Jen Beattie: Former Arsenal and Man City defender announces retirement from football | Football news

Former Arsenal and Manchester City defender Jen Beattie has announced her retirement from football.

The 33-year-old is calling time on a career that has spanned almost 19 years, playing all over the world in the UK, Australia and USA, as well as internationally for Scotland.

It took a long time to make a decision, but the time has finally come for me to retire and step away from football and the game I have loved for so long, said Beattie in an exclusive interview with Sky Sports News.

“There are so many different reasons, but ultimately it’s been on my mind for a few seasons now. You never really know when the time is right, but there were a lot of other things that really filled me and I was ready to start that next chapter.”

Here he looks back on his playing career and what’s next…

“The first Arsenal is a turning point in my life”

Beattie started her career at Celtic in her native Glasgow, before moving to Arsenal in 2009…

“I played senior football in Scotland and we started at 16, 17, 18, but it was completely amateur.

“Arsenal has always been the number one team. They won the European Cup in 2009 and I got a call right after that.

“The phone call to sign was one of those moments I’ll never forget. I was incredibly lucky with a guy called Tony Gervais, who’s my U19 Scotland coach, who got the assistant job at Arsenal.

“It was a turning point in my whole life and the best decision I ever made to go and sign.”

‘Montpellier one of the best and hardest things I’ve done’

After four successful years at Arsenal, Beattie moved to France to play for Montpellier…

“When I signed for Arsenal, I was among some of the biggest names in football. Instead of watching those players on TV, I’m in the dressing room with Kelly Smith, Rachel Yankee, Alex Scott and all these players that I’ve watched for so long so I know what success looks and feels like and what it takes to achieve it.

“But they were still semi-professional and there was no place for me on a contract basis. The opportunities to go full-time were elsewhere and Montpellier were looking for a centre-back. My brother was actually playing rugby out there at the same time, so if I had some comfortable blankets.

“It was the best and hardest thing I’ve ever done, going to play in the south of France. It sounds amazing and it was in so many ways, but I was only 22 and it was a different language and a different style of football.. But I learned a lot about yourself and it’s very important to go through those hard times.”

‘Man City’s early project delighted me’

Beattie returned to the WSL in 2015 when she signed for Manchester City…

“Their project and plans just blew away every other club at the time – and the way they invested in the women’s team. I’ll never forget the call when they showed me the plans. It was a style of football and to come back to England, closer to friends and family .

“One of the best decisions I’ve ever made was signing for Man City. I have some of the best memories there and I think I’ve made incredible progress as a footballer as well.

“Nick Cushing, to this day, is one of the best coaches I’ve ever had and is playing with some top players and winning trophies again.”

Playing in Melbourne with Little, Fishlock and Catley

While at Man City, he also had a short loan spell at Melbourne City between 2015 and 2016 – a team that is also part of the City Football Group…

“We were summer league then and Melbourne played over the break, so I didn’t miss any football.

“They wanted to sign a centre-back and I thought ‘100 per cent I’d love to do that’. Again, it was some of the best four months of my life.

“Melbourne is an amazing city and I felt so safe within that City Football Group, learning a similar style of football. I played with my best team-mate, Kim Little, who came with us and Jess Fishlock, another amazing midfielder. There I also met Steph Catley, who became one of my best friends.

“I know it’s ironic to go to the other side of the world to play football when you want to be closer to friends and family, but football is about experiences, growth and challenges. It was another one of those moments where it was out of my comfort zone. I raised more two trophies there.”

Beattie’s diagnosis of breast cancer

Beattie returned to Arsenal in 2019 but took a break from the game in 2020 after being diagnosed with breast cancer…

“I always give credit to Arsenal because going through something as difficult as breast cancer, I felt very supported, either emotionally or physically, going through the diagnosis with tests and appointments.

“The hardest part was stepping away from football and going through the surgery. All I wanted to do was get back to playing with my mates, get back to competing and everything I craved, but that was the mentality of an athlete.

“I was just putting one foot in front of the other and trying to get through it as best I could. I felt really lucky to have an amazing group of people at the club.

“I always talk about Joe Montemurro in that sense. I always knew he was an amazing man, but he became a second dad in that moment, when you’re away from friends and family.

“My perspective changed on football. I will always be competitive and chase trophies – it’s built into me. I always wanted to play at the top with the best players, but the enjoyment became more important or the connection with my teammates is what I really valued.

“I honestly enjoyed every day after that, regardless of the injuries or the selection or whatever. It brought me closer to my teammates. To win just one trophy after that doesn’t sound like the most successful spell, but they’re probably some of my most enjoyable years, somehow. upside down.”

‘Winning awards for charity are the things I’m most proud of’

Beattie has won awards for her charity work around breast cancer awareness. In 2021, she won the BBC’s Helen Morrison Award for Sports Personality of the Year and an MBE in 2023. In America, she was also awarded the Lauren Holiday Award for her contribution to the community…

“Soccer has a platform and I think that’s a responsibility we all have as women in the game. It’s something I’ve never taken lightly and I’ve always respected the kind of platform we’ve had and wanted to use it for good.

“No matter what I’ve been through personally, it’s never been about me. It’s been about the bigger picture and trying to share stories and create communities within and outside of football.

“I’m sharing my story again, I never in a million years thought it would lead to awards, but ultimately they’re probably the things I’m most proud of because they’re not football related and that’s how you are as a human being.

“It’s also a credit to football that it’s really sharing the story beyond me. I’ve been blown away by the support of the football community and the way they’ve shown support in sharing that story is something I’ll never forget.”

‘Bay FC and NWSL challenge harder than expected’

After leaving Arsenal for the second time, Beattie joined Bay FC of the NWSL, the first time she will be playing in the US…

“The NWSL is hard to watch with the time difference, but it’s always been a league that intrigued me. What Bay FC was trying to do as a club was really similar to the European style of football and I thought, ‘if I’m going to do it, it’s now or never. ‘.

“It seemed like the right choice at the time and to go and get that experience at the end of my career, I feel really grateful for that. It was another challenge and probably even harder than I expected.

“That league is another level and it’s really tough physically. But as a kid from Glasgow who lived in California for the last year of playing, it was an amazing experience. I have the palm tree tattoo to prove it.”

‘Special days to be part of the Scottish team’

At international level, Beattie has amassed over 100 caps for Scotland. She helped the team qualify for their first World Cup in 2019.

“When I first stepped into the national team, we hadn’t made it yet. Then we qualified for Euro 2017 and the World Cup 2019, so two tournaments in a row were some of the most special days of that squad.

“Apart from qualifying from those tournaments, they’re some of the best people in terms of how much fun I’ve had going in and meeting the Scots every six weeks. I absolutely loved it, especially when I moved away when I was 18.

“Qualifying for two major tournaments and knowing what that has done for the country in terms of more girls playing and having a real impact on the development of the Scottish game at home is something we’ve always tried to push, especially with the association. We’re trying to grow the game, the numbers and the investment .”

What’s next for Jen Beattie?

“I love media and broadcasting. I started doing it a few years ago and I retired from Scotland a few years ago, it gave me those international opportunities to try it out and see if I liked it.

“It keeps you close to football, it still keeps you talking about it and being around it. When you go live and that adrenaline is there, that’s the closest I’ll ever get to 90 minutes.

“I know for sure that’s what I want to do. I’ve also watched my dad do it for so many years in Scotland and I’ll be that cliche kid who might try to follow in his footsteps. Coaching isn’t on the radar at the moment.”