Manchester United and England goalkeeper Mary Earps has been crowned the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year, securing the prestigious award after a stellar year both at the club and international levels.
Earps, who earned the Golden Glove during England’s journey to the World Cup final in August, played a pivotal role in helping United secure a second-place finish in the 2022-23 Women’s Super League (WSL), setting a WSL record with 14 clean sheets.
Expressing her gratitude, the 30-year-old said, “I am truly honored. To be the first keeper to get their hands on the award is special, and I am incredibly grateful.”
Fans voted for the award on the BBC Sport website after a five-player shortlist was selected by a panel of football experts worldwide, including coaches, players, administrators, and journalists. Spain midfielder Aitana Bonmati secured the second spot in the voting, while Chelsea forward Sam Kerr finished third.
Earps, who came fifth in the 2023 Ballon d’Or, has not only excelled on the field but also made an impact off it. She challenged England’s kit manufacturer Nike for not producing replicas of her shirt for fans during the World Cup, highlighting her commitment to the game both on and off the pitch.
Reflecting on her journey, Earps shared, “Last year was an incredible season for United. I think it’s been an incredible year, an incredible couple of years. I’m just trying to make the most of everything really.”
England’s national team coach, Sarina Wiegman, congratulated Earps, saying, “Congratulations, but you’re not done yet. You have to keep going – get some more. Enjoy this award.”
A pivotal player in England’s successful 2022 European Championship campaign, Earps carried the momentum into the 2023 World Cup, where she started all seven fixtures, earned three clean sheets, and was awarded the Golden Glove for the best goalkeeper at the tournament.
Earps, who considered retiring from international football between 2019 and 2021, has emerged as one of the world’s top goalkeepers, serving as an inspiration to many. She becomes the fourth Briton to win the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year award, following in the footsteps of Lucy Bronze, Beth Mead, and Kim Little.
Upon receiving congratulatory messages from the most-capped Lioness Fara Williams and former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, Earps expressed her gratitude, noting, “It is incredible to hear those things. I don’t think we’re always that forthcoming, so to hear words like that from incredible people and what they’ve all achieved is unbelievable. That means a great deal.”
By BBC Sports
