33 Facts About Karen Carney

1.

Karen Julia Carney was born on 1 August 1987 and is an English sports journalist and former professional footballer who played as a winger and midfielder.

2.

Karen Carney is a sports columnist for BBC Sport, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Television, and The Guardian.

3.

Karen Carney began her career at Birmingham City and was twice named FA Young Player of the Year in 2005 and 2006.

4.

Karen Carney made her senior international debut for England in 2005.

5.

Karen Carney represented England at four FIFA Women's World Cups and at four UEFA Women's Championships.

6.

Karen Carney represented Great Britain at the 2012 Summer Olympics.

7.

In 2015, Karen Carney was inducted into Birmingham City's Hall of Fame, and 2021, she was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame.

8.

Karen Carney joined Birmingham City Ladies at the age of 11 and played at various age levels for the club alongside the likes of Eniola Aluko and Laura Bassett.

9.

Karen Carney made her first-team debut for Birmingham City in the FA Women's Premier League National Division against Fulham Ladies at the age of 14.

10.

Karen Carney earned FA National Young Player of the Year honors in 2005 and 2006.

11.

Karen Carney made 21 appearances in the Premier League in her first season and scored 10 goals.

12.

Karen Carney made 20 Premier League appearances and scored 10 goals.

13.

Karen Carney made 13 Premier League appearances and scored eight goals.

14.

Karen Carney joined Head Coach Emma Hayes, who had served as Arsenal's first team assistant coach.

15.

Karen Carney scored the winning goal and was Player of the Match in the 2012 FA Women's Cup Final.

16.

Karen Carney was a starting player during the 2014 season in all 14 matches.

17.

Karen Carney was the first woman inducted into Birmingham City's Hall of Fame in March 2015.

18.

In December 2015, Karen Carney left Birmingham for the second time in her career, transferring to FA WSL champions Chelsea on a two-year contract.

19.

Karen Carney was described as "world-class" by Chelsea manager Emma Hayes, who previously worked with Carney at Arsenal and Chicago Red Stars.

20.

Karen Carney is a very experienced international player, who has great quality and vision with the ball at her feet.

21.

Karen Carney has been the real playmaker for both her former club Birmingham and for England as well, so it was a no-brainer for Chelsea to go after her.

22.

Karen Carney was named the club's Player of the Year and was short-listed for England Women's Player of the Year.

23.

Karen Carney was the youngest player to earn a senior debut during Hope Powell's tenure as England coach.

24.

Karen Carney was the youngest and the eighth player to earn 100 caps for England.

25.

Karen Carney was named to the 2019 England World Cup squad, and earned her 141st cap in England's first match against Scotland.

26.

On 5 July 2019, Karen Carney announced that she would retire after the World Cup third-place final match against Sweden.

27.

In June 2012, Karen Carney was named in the 18-player Great Britain squad for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

28.

Karen Carney was born in Hall Green and attended St Ambrose Barlow Catholic Primary School and St Peter's RC Secondary School, Solihull.

29.

Karen Carney graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree from Loughborough University in Sports and Exercise Science with a specialization in Physiology and Sports Psychology.

30.

Karen Carney's dissertation was on "The impact of caffeine on repeated sprint performance in elite female football".

31.

Karen Carney's dissertation was on "video analysis and coach reflection of team talks within football".

32.

Karen Carney was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2017 New Year Honours for services to football.

33.

Karen Carney is a vegan and credits the diet for improving both her physical and mental health.