WHEN England stalwart Mary Earps announced her shock retirement weeks before the Women’s Euro 2025, the Lionesses’ defence hopes were put at risk
But England’s new first-choice goalkeeper has shut the naysayers down, with her shot-stopping prowess, which helped get England to the final.
Hannah Hampton become England’s first choice in AprilGetty
Who is Hannah Hampton?
Hannah Hampton is England’s new number one goalkeeper and at 24 years old she has already had a stellar start to her career.
While she was born in Birmingham, Hampton grew up in Spain between the ages of five and 11.
As a child, she played outfield in the Villarreal academy as a striker, and this experience has made an impact on her playing style.
Following her return to England and her youth career at Stoke City and Birmingham City, she finally made her season debut for the latter in 2017, and left after making 50 appearances.
Hampton was was born with a condition called strabismus – which effectively means her eyes are misaligned with one turned in an opposite direction to the other.
Three surgeries by the time she was three failed to solve the issue but there was no stopping the keeper as she refused to let the condition stop her from joining Stoke City’s centre of excellence.
There was another shock in store for her when a check-up at the doctor’s uncovered another issue when she was aged 11.
Hampton was told that she had a depth perception problem, which means she has difficulties with judging distances and spatial relationships.
Hampton had a rocky period while at Aston Villa, being left out of the squad to the extent she thought she would quit.
However, after two years at the club, she made her move to Chelsea in 2023.
This Euro tournament has come off the back of a hugely successful season for Hampton at Chelsea.
GettyHampton has played for Chelsea since 2023 and quickly became Number 1.[/caption]
The young Brit played every minute of Chelsea’s unprecedented unbeaten treble winning domestic campaign.
Under the guise of Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor, Hampton has flourished after she was made first-choice keeper for the squad at the start of the season.
From there, Hampton has gone from strength to strength, securing her place as England’s Number 1.
Why is Hampton the first choice?
Hampton’s road to becoming England’s first choice has been far from easy.
Hampton had been part of the 2022 Euro-winning squad, but was second choice to mainstay Earps.
What’s more, then 21 years old, Hampton was dropped by Sarina Wiegman after the tournament amid reports of her behaviour and attitude.
But Hampton kept her head down and worked hard, and three years later, Wiegman came to the same conclusion as Bompastor.
Hampton was the number one pick.
What is Hannah Hampton’s England success?
While Hampton has impressed on the international stage before this Euro tournament, the 24-year-old has confirmed herself as the natural Earps successor this month.
Shutterstock EditorialHampton kept England’s hope alive in Swedish penality shoot-out[/caption]
Despite the spotlight being firmly placed on Hampton, she silenced any doubters with her heroic display in the penalty shoot-out against Sweden.
Hampton made a number of key saves that kept England in the game, even though she was bloodied and bruised following a shaky start to the game.
GettyHampton was sensational against Sweden, despite an injury[/caption]
But her abilities in goal are not the only thing that have garnered attention.
Hampton’s abilities to get the most out of her team, has meant that she has been able to create some of the moments of the tournament.
The line-breaking pass to release Alessia Russo and set up Lauren James’ opener against the Netherlands was exemplary and helped to change the fortunes of the Lionesses.
Why did Mary Earps retire?
Earps announced her shock retirement in May and flung fans into a frenzy about what this meant for the Lionesses’ title defence.
It came after long discussions with Wiegman that even if she didn’t retire, Earps would be second to Hampton.
The 32‑year‑old goalkeeper, who joined Paris Saint-Germain from Manchester United last summer, made her first England appearance in 2017.
And so in her 53-time-capped career, Earps has won the 2022 Euro and been named the best keeper in the world twice.
The decision must have been a blow.
But it is reported that Earps had been in retirement discussions with Wiegman for 12 to 18 months.
AFPMary Earps’ career has left her with a legacy beyond goalkeeping[/caption]
It is understood that Earps even wanted to retire at England’s last camp in April, but was told to reconsider.
Yet, Earps followed through and behind her leaves a legacy like no other, having changed goalkeeping indefinitely with her campaign for Nike to sell her shirt for fans.
Her trophy cabinet is swamped with Golden Glove-winning performances at the 2023 World Cup and gongs for BBC Sports Personality of the Year and BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year in 2023.
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