Karen Carney

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Karen Carney bigraphy, stories - Association football player

Karen Carney : biography

1 August 1987 –

Karen Julia Carney (born 1 August 1987, in Solihull) is an English international football winger. She is signed to Birmingham City of the FA WSL and is a member of the England women’s national football team. Since making her senior debut in 2005, Carney has made over 75 appearances for England, including at the 2005 and 2009 European Championships and the World Cup in 2007 and 2011. She competed with the Great Britain team in the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Twice named FA Young Player of the Year, Carney emerged at Birmingham City under the management of Marcus Bignot. After staying with the club for a further season following their financial collapse in 2005, she signed for Arsenal and experienced great success in 2006–07 – winning the UEFA Women’s Cup and all three domestic trophies. Following two seasons in the American Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) with Chicago Red Stars, Carney rejoined Birmingham ahead of the 2011 FA WSL.

Carney was born in Hall Green and attended St. Ambrose Barlow Catholic Primary School and St. Peter’s RC Secondary School, Solihull. She graduated with a Sports Science Degree from Loughborough University.

Club career

Start at Birmingham City

Carney joined Birmingham City L.F.C. at the age of 11 and played at various age levels for the club alongside the likes of Eniola Aluko, Hazzana Parnell and Laura Bassett. She made her first-team debut for Birmingham City in the FA Women’s Premier League National Division against Fulham L.F.C. at the age of 14.

Move to Arsenal

Carney joined Arsenal L.F.C. on 13 July 2006, and played a major part in the team that won four major honours in the 2006/07 season: the FA Women’s Premier League, FA Women’s Cup, FA Women’s Premier League Cup, and the UEFA Women’s Cup. She made 21 appearances in the Premier League in her first season and scored 10 goals. In all competitions, she made 36 appearances and scored 13 goals.

The following season saw Carney take on a greater role at Arsenal. She made 20 Premier League appearances and scored 10 goals. In all competitions, she made 34 appearances and scored 17 goals.

2008–2009 would mark Carney’s final season with Arsenal. She made 13 Premier League appearances and scored eight goals. In all competitions, she made 21 appearances and scored 12 goals.

Headed overseas

Carney on the Red Stars. Chicago Red Stars of the WPS made Carney their first signing on 27 January 2009. It was confirmed the following day by Arsenal.

She was selected by Chicago Red Stars in the third round (19th overall) of the 2008 WPS International Draft. She joined Head Coach Emma Hayes, who had served as Arsenal Ladies Football Club’s first team assistant coach.

In the inaugural 2009 Women’s Professional Soccer season, Carney appeared in and started 17 games (1471 minutes) and scored two goals while assisting on another.

Return to Birmingham City

Karen Carney, October 2012 When Chicago Red Stars folded ahead of their 2011 season, Carney re-signed for Birmingham City. She scored the winning goal and was Player of the Match in the 2012 FA Women’s Cup Final.

International career

Carney made her senior international debut in England’s 4–1 victory over Italy in 2005, coming off the bench to score England’s fourth goal. She became the youngest player to be handed a senior debut during Hope Powell’s reign as England coach.

She then went on to become an integral part of the team at the UEFA Women’s Euro 2005 later that year, including scoring a last-minute, game-winning goal in the 3–2 win over Finland, which earned her significant media attention.

Carney won the FA National Young Player of the Year award in 2005 and 2006.

International goals

Scores and results list England’s goal tally first.
# Date Venue Opponent Result Competition Scored
1 17 February 2005 National Hockey Stadium, Milton Keynes ITA}} 4–1 Friendly 1
2 9 March 2005 Paderne NIR}} 4–0 Algarve Cup 1
3 5 June 2005 City of Manchester Stadium, Manchester FIN}} 3–2 2005 UEFA Championship 1
4 9 March 2006 Carrow Road, Norwich ISL}} 1–0 Friendly 1
5 8 March 2007 National Hockey Stadium, Milton Keynes RUS}} 6–0 Friendly 1
6 25 November 2007 New Meadow, Shrewsbury ESP}} 1–0 2009 UEFA Championship Qual. 1
7 28 September 2008 Ďolíček, Prague CZE}} 5–1 UEFA Euro 2009 Qual. 1
8 2 October 2008 Estadio Ruta de la Plata, Spain ESP}} 2–2 2009 UEFA Championship Qual. 1
9 7 March 2009 Paralimni Stadium, Paralimni FRA}} 2–2 Cyprus Cup 1
10 28 August 2009 Finnair Stadium, Helsinki RUS}} 3–2 2009 UEFA Championship 1
11 10 September 2009 Olympic Stadium, Helsinki GER}} 2–6 2009 UEFA Championship 1
12 17 May 2011 Kassam Stadium, Oxford SWE}} 2–0 Friendly 1
13 28 February 2012 GSP Stadium, Larnaca FIN}} 3–1 Cyprus Cup 1
14 21 June 2012 Ob Jezeru, Velenje SLO}} 4–0 UEFA Euro 2013 Qual. 1