Former defender of “Arsenal” and “Manchester City” women Jen Beatty has announced her retirement from football.
The 33-year-old is calling time on a career that has spanned almost 19 years, playing all over the world in the UK, Australia and USA, as well as internationally for Scotland.
“It’s taken a long time to come to a decision, but it’s finally time to step away from football and the game I’ve loved for so long,” Beatty said in an exclusive interview. Sky Sports News.
“There’s a lot of different reasons, but ultimately it’s been on my mind for quite a few seasons. You never really know when the time is right, but a lot of other things were really fulfilling for me and I was ready to start it next time. chapter”.
Here, he looks back on his playing career and what’s next…
“The first Arsenal was a turning point in my life”
Beattie began his career with Celtic in his hometown of Glasgow before moving to Arsenal in 2009.
“I played senior football in Scotland and we started at 16, 17, 18, but it was completely amateur.
“Arsenal have always been that number one team. They won the European Cup in 2009 and I got the call straight away.
“The phone call to sign me was one of those moments I’ll never forget. I was incredibly lucky with a guy called Tony Gervais, who is my Scotland under-19 manager, who got the assistant job at Arsenal.
“It was a turning point in my entire life and the best decision I ever made to go and sign.”
“Montpellier is one of the best and hardest things I’ve done”
After four successful years at Arsenal, Beatty moved to France to play for Montpellier…
“When I signed for Arsenal, I was one of the biggest names in football. Instead of watching those players on TV, I’m in the dressing room with Kelly Smith, Rachel Yankey and all the players I watched for so long know what success looks and feels like and what it takes to get there.
“But they were still semi-professional and there was no room for me on a contract basis. The opportunities to go full-time were elsewhere. My brother was actually playing rugby there, so I had a bit of a blanket.
“It was the best and hardest thing I’ve ever done, to play in the south of France. It sounds amazing, and it was in many ways, but I was only 22 and it was a different language and a different style of football. But I learned a lot about me and it’s very important to get through these difficult times.”
“Early Man City project spoiled me”
Beattie returned to the WSL in 2015 when he signed with Manchester City…
“Their project and plans just blew all the other clubs out of the park at the time and how they invested in the women’s team. I’ll never forget the call when they showed me the plans. It was in style and back in England and with family.
“One of the best decisions I ever made was signing for Manchester City. I have some of my best memories there and I think I made incredible progress as a footballer as well.
“Nick Cushing is, to this day, one of the best coaches I’ve ever had and playing alongside some top players and winning titles again.”
Plays in Melbourne with Little, Fishlock and Catley
While at Man City, he also had a short-term loan spell at Melbourne City from 2015 to 2016, a team that is also part of the City Football Group…
“It was summer league at the time and Melbourne was playing at half-time, so I didn’t miss any football.
“They wanted to sign a centre-back and I thought ‘I’d 100 per cent go and do it.'” Again, they were one of the best four months of my life.
“Melbourne is an incredible city and I felt so safe in the City football group. I was playing with my best friend, Kim Little, who met us, and Jess Fishlock, another incredible midfielder I also met Steph Catley who became one of my best friends.
“I know it’s ironic to go to the other side of the world to play football when you want to be closer to friends and family, but football is about experience, growth and challenge. I lifted two more trophies.”
Beatty’s diagnosis of breast cancer
Beattie returned to Arsenal in 2019 but retired from the game in 2020 after being diagnosed with breast cancer…
“I always give Arsenal credit because going through something as difficult as breast cancer I was supported so much, whether it was emotionally or physically, going through the diagnosis with tests and appointments.
“The hardest part was leaving football for the surgery. All I wanted to do was get back to playing with my friends, back to competing and all that I craved, but that was the mindset of an athlete.
“I was just putting one foot in front of the other and trying to get through it as best I could. I felt really lucky to have a great group of people at the club.
The defender helped Arsenal win the Conti Cup in his second spell at the club
“I always talk about Joe Montemurro in that sense. I always knew he was an incredible person, but he became a second father when you’re away from friends and family.
“My perspective on football has changed. I will always be competitive and chase titles, it’s in me. I really appreciated it.
“Honestly, I enjoyed every day after that, regardless of injuries or selection or anything else. It made me closer to my teammates. After that, winning just one trophy doesn’t seem like the most successful spell, but they are probably several. It kind of turned my best years on its head.”
“Winning charity awards are the things I’m most proud of.”
Beattie has won awards for her charity work around breast cancer. In 2021, she was awarded the BBC Sports Personality of the Year and in 2023, she was awarded the Lorraine Holliday Award for Community Service.
“Football has a platform and I think that’s a responsibility that we all have as women in the game. It’s something that I’ve never taken lightly and I’ve always respected the platform that we’ve had and wanted to put it to good use.
“No matter what I’ve been through personally, it’s never been about me. It’s about the bigger picture and trying to share stories and create communities within football, but also outside of it.
“Sharing my story, again, I never in a million years thought it would lead to awards, but at the end of the day, those are the things I’m most proud of because they’re not related to football, and that’s what you are like as a person. .
“It’s also a credit to football to really share a story outside of myself. I’ve been so overwhelmed by the support of the football community and the fact that they’ve shown support in sharing that story, I’ll never forget.”
“Bay FC and NWSL challenge harder than expected”
Jen Beattie left Arsenal to join Bay FC in the NWSL last year (pic courtesy of Bay FC)
After leaving Arsenal for the second time, Beatty joined NWSL side Bay FC, marking his first time playing in the US…
“The NWSL is hard to watch because of the time difference, but it’s always been a league I’ve been interested in. What Bay FC was trying to do as a club was really similar to the European style of football, and I thought: “I’ll do it, now or never.”
“It felt like the right fit at the time and to go and have that experience at the end of my career, I’m really grateful for that. It was another challenge and probably even harder than I expected.
“That league is on another level and it’s really tough physically. But as a kid from Glasgow, playing in California for the last year, it was an amazing experience. I’ve got a palm tattoo to prove it.”
“Special days in the Scotland team”
Jen Beattie announced her international retirement in January 2023
At international level, Beattie has earned more than 100 caps for Scotland, helping the team qualify for the 2019 World Cup for the first…
“When I first came into the national team, we hadn’t made it. Then we qualified for Euro 2017 and the 2019 World Cup, so two tournaments back to back were some of the most special days for that squad.
“Apart from qualifying for those tournaments, they’re the best people in terms of how much fun I had visiting and meeting the Scots every six weeks. I absolutely loved it, especially when I left when I was 18.
“Qualifying for two major tournaments and knowing what that’s done for the country in terms of getting more girls playing and having an impact on the development of the Scottish game back home is something we’ve always tried to push forward, especially with the association. We try.” increase play, numbers and investment”.
What’s next for Jen Beatty?
“I really love media and broadcasting. I got into it a few years ago and retiring from Scotland a few years ago gave me an international window to try it out and see if I liked it.
“It keeps you close to football, still talking about it and being in it. When you’re going live and the adrenaline is there, that’s the closest I’ll ever get to 90 minutes.
“I know for sure that’s what I want to do. I’ve also watched my dad do it for so many years in Scotland and I’ll be the cliché kid to try and follow in his footsteps not on the radar at the moment.”
