Eni Aluko, Former England Striker Retires From Football At Age 30
Former England women’s striker Eni Aluko, has announced her retirement from football on Wednesday.
The 32-year-old, who has won 102 international cups took to Twitter to make the big announcement saying;
My dear friend football, it’s time to hang up my boots and retire as a professional footballer. Thankyou football for everything you’ve given and taught me. Thanks for the full circle moments & crazy unexpected journey.
— Eniola Aluko (@EniAlu) January 15, 2020
Full letter⬇️https://t.co/UWOyO2nP8B
📸 @PlayersTribune pic.twitter.com/jwj6HtHWic
The striker left Juventus in December after nearly 18 months with the Serie A champions and had been said to return to England’s Women’s Super League.
Aluko, who previously played for Chelsea and in the United States, was part of the Great Britain team at the London 2012 Olympics.
In a letter about her retirement, she wrote;
Dear Football, when we first met 25 years ago, I could never have imagined the crazy, unbelievable journey you would take me on.
You have given me the dream of playing in the US, the pride of representing England, the thrill of winning titles with Chelsea, the adventure of playing for Juventus in Italy.
Whenever I have faced obstacles, you have shattered them. Whenever I have had great expectations, you have exceeded them.
It could be recalled that in 2016 the striker, who is also a trained lawyer, was involved in a scandal where she made misconduct allegations against her former England boss, Mark Sampson.
Aluko who has scored 33 goals for England, made her last international appearance in 2016, during the scandal where an investigation found Sampson had made racially discriminatory remarks to Aluko and fellow player, Drew Spence.
The case was concluded in October 2017 and Football Association apologized to both players.