| General |
| Steph Houghton MBE | ||
| ||
| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name: | Stephanie Jayne Darby | |
| Date of birth: | 23 April 1988 | |
| Place of birth: | Durham,  England
| |
| Height: | 1.74 m (5 ft 81⁄2 in) | |
| Playing position: | Defender | |
| Youth clubs | ||
| Sunderland
| ||
| Senior clubs | ||
| Years | Club | App (Gls) |
| 2002–2007 2007–2010 2010–2013 2014–2024 |
Sunderland Leeds United Arsenal Manchester City
|
61 (24) 47 (9) 39 (7) 138 (17) |
| National team | ||
| 2008 2010 2007–2021 2012–2021 |
England U19 England U23 England Great Britain
|
4 (0) 3 (0) 121 (13) 8 (3) |
Stephanie Jayne Darby MBE (née Houghton, born 23 April 1988), commonly known as Steph Houghton, is an English former professional footballer who played as a centre-back. Known for her leadership and commitment, Houghton was widely regarded as one of the best centre-backs in the world during her career.
At club level, Houghton started at Sunderland in her native North East England, before moving on to Leeds Carnegie in 2007, where she won the FA Women's Premier League Cup. In 2010, she joined Arsenal Ladies, where she won the FA WSL on two occasions and is a two-time winner of the FA Women's Cup and three-time winner of the FA WSL Cup. She broke into the Sunderland team as a striker before moving back into midfield and later into defence.
Since her debut in 2007, Houghton has played over 100 times for England women's national team. She suffered serious injuries immediately before the 2007 World Cup and Euro 2009, but recovered to play in the 2011 World Cup and Euro 2013. She was made England captain in January 2014, and went on to captain her country at two World Cups and a Women's Euro, earning a bronze medal at the 2015 World Cup. At the 2012 Summer Olympics, Houghton scored three goals in Great Britain's four games, including winners against New Zealand and Brazil. She represented Great Britain again in the 2020 Summer Olympics.
Houghton was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2016 New Year Honours for services to football. She was awarded the Freedom of the City of Sunderland on 8 March 2023.
Club career[]
Houghton began her career playing for five years at Sunderland. She helped Sunderland to win promotion from the Northern Division in 2005–06 and then won the FA Young Player of the Year Award in 2006–07. After Sunderland were relegated that season, Houghton became a target for Arsenal and Everton. She eventually joined Leeds Carnegie. After helping Leeds win the 2010 FA Women's Premier League Cup, Houghton signed for Arsenal in August of that year.
On 5 December 2013, it was announced that Houghton had signed an agreement to leave Arsenal for new WSL side Manchester City on 1 January 2014. Houghton signed a two-year contract extension with Manchester City on 24 January 2020.
On 27 March 2024, Houghton announced that she would retire from football at the end of the 2023–24 season.
Personal life[]
Houghton is married to former Bolton Wanderers defender Stephen Darby. They married on 21 June 2018.
On 18 September 2018, Darby announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 29 after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease.
Career statistics[]
Club[]
- As of match played 18 May 2024
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Continental | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Sunderland | 2004–05 | FA WPL Northern | 22 | 16 | 0 | 0 | — | 22 | 16 | |||
| 2005–06 | Women's Premier League | 16 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | 19 | 1 | ||||
| 2006–07 | Women's Premier League | 23 | 7 | 1 | 0 | — | 24 | 7 | ||||
| Total | 61 | 24 | 4 | 0 | — | 65 | 24 | |||||
| Leeds Carnegie | 2007–08 | Women's Premier League | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 14 | 2 | |||
| 2008–09 | Women's Premier League | 18 | 5 | 2 | 0 | — | 20 | 5 | ||||
| 2009–10 | Women's Premier League | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 15 | 2 | ||||
| Total | 47 | 9 | 2 | 0 | — | 49 | 9 | |||||
| Arsenal | 2011 | Women's Super League | 12 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 23 | 2 |
| 2012 | Women's Super League | 14 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 25 | 3 | |
| 2013 | Women's Super League | 13 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 26 | 7 | |
| Total | 39 | 7 | 10 | 1 | 13 | 4 | 12 | 0 | 74 | 12 | ||
| Manchester City | 2014 | Women's Super League | 13 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 1 | — | 22 | 1 | |
| 2015 | Women's Super League | 11 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | — | 18 | 4 | ||
| 2016 | Women's Super League | 16 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 25 | 2 | |
| 2017 | Women's Super League | 8 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 15 | 1 | |
| 2017–18 | Women's Super League | 15 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 31 | 3 | |
| 2018–19 | Women's Super League | 20 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 29 | 4 | |
| 2019–20 | Women's Super League | 16 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 28 | 2 | |
| 2020–21 | Women's Super League | 16 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 23 | 2 | |
| 2021–22 | Women's Super League | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 1 | |
| 2022–23 | Women's Super League | 14 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 24 | 2 | |
| 2023–24 | Women's Super League | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 9 | 0 | ||
| Total | 138 | 17 | 19 | 2 | 51 | 2 | 25 | 1 | 233 | 22 | ||
| Career total | 285 | 57 | 29 | 3 | 70 | 6 | 37 | 1 | 421 | 67 | ||
International[]
- Statistics accurate as of match played 27 July 2021.
| Year | England | Great Britain | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |
| 2007 | ? | 0 | – | |
| 2008 | ? | 0 | – | |
| 2009 | ? | 1 | – | |
| 2010 | ? | 0 | – | |
| 2011 | ? | 1 | – | |
| 2012 | ? | 3 | 5 | 3 |
| 2013 | 10 | 1 | – | |
| 2014 | 11 | 1 | – | |
| 2015 | 14 | 1 | – | |
| 2016 | 12 | 1 | – | |
| 2017 | 15 | 2 | – | |
| 2018 | 6 | 0 | – | |
| 2019 | 17 | 2 | – | |
| 2020 | 3 | 0 | – | |
| 2021 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Total | 121 | 13 | 8 | 3 |
- For England
- Scores and results list England's goal tally first.
| Goal | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 5 March 2009 | GSZ Stadium, Larnaca, Cyprus |  South Africa |
4–0 | 6–0 | 2009 Cyprus Cup |
| 2. | 22 September 2011 | County Ground, Swindon, England |  Slovenia |
3–0 | 4–0 | Euro 2013 qualifying |
| 3. | 31 March 2012 | Sajmište, Vrbovec, Croatia |  Croatia |
5–0 | 6–0 | |
| 4. | 6–0 | |||||
| 5. | 20 October 2012 | Stade Sébastien Charléty, Paris, France |  France |
1–0 | 2–2 | Friendly |
| 6. | 6 March 2013 | GSP Stadium, Nicosia, Cyprus |  Italy |
2–2 | 4–2 | 2013 Cyprus Cup |
| 7. | 14 June 2014 | Traktar Stadium, Minsk, Belarus |  Belarus |
2–0 | 3–0 | 2015 World Cup qualifying |
| 8. | 22 June 2015 | Lansdowne Stadium, Ottawa, Canada |  Norway |
1–1 | 2–1 | 2015 World Cup |
| 9. | 25 October 2016 | Estadio Pedro Escartín, Guadalajara, Spain |  Spain |
2–0 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 10. | 24 November 2017 | Bescot Stadium, Walsall, England |  Bosnia and Herzegovina |
1–0 | 4–0 | 2019 World Cup qualifying |
| 11. | 3–0 | |||||
| 12. | 2 March 2019 | Nissan Stadium, Nashville, United States |  United States |
1–1 | 2–2 | 2019 SheBelieves Cup |
| 13. | 23 June 2019 | Stade du Hainaut, Valenciennes, France |  Cameroon |
1–0 | 3–0 | 2019 World Cup |
- For Great Britain
- Scores and results list Great Britain's goal tally first.
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 25 July 2012 | Millennium Stadium, Cardiff |  New Zealand |
1–0 | 2012 Olympic Games |
| 2 | 28 July 2012 | Millennium Stadium, Cardiff | Cameroon |
3–0 | 2012 Olympic Games |
| 3 | 31 July 2012 | Wembley Stadium, London |  Brazil |
1–0 | 2012 Olympic Games |
Honours[]
Leeds Carnegie
- FA Women's Premier League Cup: 2009–10
Arsenal
- FA WSL: 2011, 2012
- FA Women's Cup: 2010–11, 2012–13
- FA WSL Cup: 2011, 2012, 2013
Manchester City
- FA WSL: 2016
- FA Women's Cup: 2016–17, 2018–19, 2019–20; runner-up: 2021–22
- FA WSL Cup: 2014, 2016, 2018–19, 2021–22; runner-up: 2017–18
- FA Women's Community Shield runner-up: 2020
England
- FIFA Women's World Cup third place: 2015
- Cyprus Cup: 2009, 2013, 2015; runner-up: 2014
- SheBelieves Cup: 2019
External links[]
Steph Houghton at Soccerway- Steph Houghton Manchester City profile
| Manchester City F.C. squad - 2024–25 |
|
3 Dias · 5 Stones · 6 Aké · 7 Marmoush · 8 Kovačić · 9 Haaland · 10 Grealish · 11 Doku · 14 González · 16 Rodri · 17 De Bruyne · 18 Ortega · 19 Gündoğan · 20 Silva · 22 Reis · 24 Gvardiol · 25 Akanji · 26 Savinho · 27 Nunes · 30 Echeverri · 31 Ederson · 33 Carson · 45 Khusanov · 47 Foden · 52 Bobb · 75 O'Reilly · 82 Lewis · 87 McAtee · Manager: Pep Guardiola |
| England
|
| England – 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup – Quarter-finals |
|
1. Bardsley
2. A. Scott
3. Unitt
4. J. Scott
5. F. White (c)
6. Stoney
7. Clarke
8. Williams
9. E. White
10. Smith
11. Yankey
12. Carney
13. Brown
14. Aluko
15. Bradley
16. Houghton
17. Bassett
18. Asante
19. Susi
20. Rafferty
21. Chamberlain
Manager: |
| England – UEFA Women's Euro 2013 – Group stage |
|
1. Bardsley
2. A. Scott
3. Houghton
4. J. Scott
5. Bradley
6. Stoney (c)
7. Aluko
8. Asante
9. White
10. Williams
11. Yankey
12. Clarke
13. Brown
14. Carney
15. Bassett
16. Nobbs
17. Duggan
18. Susi
19. Bonner
20. Moore
21. Bronze
22. Smith
23. Chamberlain |
| England – 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup – Third place |
|
1. Bardsley
2. A. Scott
3. Rafferty
4. Williams
5. Houghton (c)
6. Bassett
7. Nobbs
8. J. Scott
9. Aluko
10. Carney
11. Moore
12. Bronze
13. Chamberlain
14. Greenwood
15. Stoney
16. Chapman
17. Potter
18. Duggan
19. Taylor
20. Sanderson
21. Telford
22. Kirby
23. White
Manager: |
| England – UEFA Women's Euro 2017 – Semi-finals |
|
1. Bardsley
2. Bronze
3. Stokes
4. J. Scott
5. Houghton (c)
6. Potter
7. Nobbs
8. Christiansen
9. Taylor
10. Williams
11. Moore
12. Stoney
13. Chamberlain
14. Carney
15. Bassett
16. Bright
17. Parris
18. White
19. Duggan
20. Greenwood
21. Telford
22. A. Scott
23. Kirby
Manager: |
| England – 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup – Fourth place |
|
1. Bardsley
2. Bronze
3. Greenwood
4. Walsh
5. Houghton (c)
6. Bright
7. Parris
8. Scott
9. Taylor
10. Kirby
11. Duggan
12. Stokes
13. Telford
14. Williamson
15. McManus
16. Moore
17. Daly
18. White
19. Stanway
20. Carney
21. Earps
22. Mead
23. Staniforth
Manager: |