Former England footballer Karen Carney has swapped football boots for dancing shoes in spectacular fashion, clinching the coveted Glitterball trophy on Strictly Come Dancing on Saturday night. Her victory with professional partner Carlos Gu caps a remarkable transition from sports star to entertainment favourite.
A Stellar Club Career Across Two Continents
Carney's journey in football began at a remarkably young age. She started her senior career at Birmingham City in 2001 when she was just 14 years old. Operating as a winger and midfielder, her skilful play earned her the nickname 'the wizard'.
Her talent soon took her to one of the game's giants. Between 2006 and 2009, Carney played for Arsenal, where she was part of the historic 2006-07 quadruple-winning team. That legendary squad secured the UEFA Women's Cup and a clean sweep of all three domestic trophies. During her time with the Gunners, she found the net 28 times.
Seeking a new challenge, Carney crossed the Atlantic to play for Chicago Red Stars in the American Women's Professional Soccer league for the 2009-2010 season, making 38 appearances and scoring three goals.
She returned to her roots for a four-season spell at Birmingham City from 2011 to 2015, winning the FA Women's Cup in 2012 and adding 12 more goals to her tally from 50 games.
Carney then saw out the remainder of her club career at Chelsea, playing from 2015 until her retirement in 2019. She scored 10 goals for the Blues and was instrumental in securing the Women's Super League and FA Women's Cup double in the 2017-18 season.
An International Icon for England and Team GB
On the international stage, Karen Carney's contributions were nothing short of phenomenal. She earned her first cap for England in 2005 and went on to represent her country for 14 years.
Carney retired from international duty with 144 caps, making her the third most-capped England player of all time. She represented the Lionesses at four FIFA Women's World Cups and four UEFA European Championships.
One of her career highlights was helping England secure a third-place finish at the 2015 World Cup in Canada. Across her 144 appearances, she scored an impressive 33 goals for the national team.
Carney also had the honour of competing for Team GB at the 2012 London Olympics, making five appearances for the combined British side on home soil.
A New Champion on the Dance Floor
Karen Carney's stunning victory on Strictly Come Dancing demonstrates the same determination and grace that defined her football career. Her ability to master a completely new discipline and win over both judges and the public echoes the adaptability she showed on the pitch.
From a teenage prodigy at Birmingham to a global star with England and now a BBC dance champion, Carney continues to inspire with her competitive spirit and dedication to excellence, proving that champions can indeed shine in more than one arena.
