Former Arsenal Women and Manchester City Women defender Jen Beattie has announced her retirement from football.
The 33-year-old is calling time on a career that has spanned almost 19 years, playing across the world in the UK, Australia and the USA, as well as internationally for Scotland.
“It’s been a long time taken to come to a decision, but it’s finally time to retire and step away from football and the game I’ve loved for so long,” Beattie said in an exclusive interview with Sky Sports News.
“There’s so many different reasons, but ultimately it’s been on my mind for a fair few seasons now. You never really know when the time is fully right, but a lot of other things were really fulfilling me and I was ready to start that next chapter.”
Here, she looks back on her playing career and what comes next…
‘First Arsenal spell a turning point in my life’
Beattie began her career with Celtic in her hometown of Glasgow, before moving to Arsenal in 2009…
“I was playing senior football in Scotland and we started at 16, 17, 18, but it was completely amateur.
“Arsenal was always that number one team. They won the European Cup in 2009 and I got the call right after that.
“The phone call to sign me was one of those moments that I’ll never forget. I got incredibly lucky with a guy called Tony Gervais, who is my U19 Scotland coach, 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 one of the best and hardest things I’ve done’
After four successful years at Arsenal, Beattie moved to France to play for Montpellier…
“When I signed for Arsenal, I was among some of the biggest names in football. Instead of watching those players on TV, I’m in a dressing room with Kelly Smith, Rachel Yankee, Alex Scott and all of these players that I’d looked up to for so long. So that let me know what success looks and feels like and what it takes to get there.
“But they were still semi-pro and there wasn’t room for me on a contractual basis. Opportunities to go full-time were elsewhere and Montpellier were looking for a centre-back. My brother was actually playing rugby out there at the same time, so I had a little bit of a comfort blanket.
“It was the best and hardest thing I’ve ever done, going to play in the south of France. It sounds amazing and it was in so many ways, but I was only 22 and it was a different language and different style of football. But I learned a lot about myself and it’s so important to go through those difficult times.”
‘Early Man City project blew me away’
Beattie returned to the WSL in 2015 when she signed for Manchester City…
“Their project and plans just blew every other club out of the park at that point in time – and the way they were investing into the women’s team. I’ll never forget the call when they showed me the plans. It was the style of football and to be back in England, closer to friends and family.
“One of the best decisions I ever made was signing for Man City. I have some of my best memories there and I think I progressed unbelievably as a footballer as well.
“Nick Cushing, still to this day, is one of the best coaches I’ve ever had and playing alongside some top players and winning trophies again.”
Playing in Melbourne with Little, Fishlock and Catley
While at Man City, there was also a brief loan spell at Melbourne City between 2015 and 2016 – a team that is also part of the City Football Group…
“We were a summer league at that point and Melbourne played over the break, so I didn’t miss any football.
“They wanted to sign a centre-back and I thought ‘I would 100 per cent love to go and do that’. Again, they were some of the best four months of my life.
“Melbourne is an unbelievable city and I felt so safe within that City Football Group, learning a similar style of football. I was playing with my best mate, Kim Little, who came across with us and Jess Fishlock as well, another incredible midfielder. That’s where I met Steph Catley as well, who’s become one of my best mates.
“I know it’s ironic going to the other side of the world to play football when you want to be closer to friends and family, but football is about experiences, growth and challenge. That was another one of those moments where it was outside of my comfort zone. I lifted another two trophies out there.”
Beattie’s breast cancer diagnosis
Beattie returned to Arsenal in 2019, but in 2020, she had a spell away from the game after receiving a breast cancer diagnosis…
“I always give credit to Arsenal because to go through something as difficult as breast cancer, I felt so supported, whether it be emotionally or physically, going through the diagnosis with tests and appointments.
“The hardest part was having to step away from football to go through the surgery. All I wanted to do was get back to playing with my mates, get back to competition and everything I craved, but it was an athlete’s mentality.
“I was just putting one foot in front of the other and trying to get through it in the best way possible. I felt really lucky to have an amazing group of people at the club.
The defender helped Arsenal to win the Conti Cup in her second spell at the club
“I always talk about Joe Montemurro in that sense. I always knew he was an incredible human, but he became a second dad in that moment, when you’re away from friends and family.
“My perspective did change on football. I’ll always be competitive and chase trophies – that’s embedded within me. I always wanted to be playing at the top with the best players, but the enjoyment became more important or the connection with teammates is what I really valued.
“I honestly enjoyed every single day after that, regardless of injuries or selection or anything. It drew me closer to my teammates. To only win one trophy after that doesn’t sound like the most successful spell, but they’re probably some of my most enjoyable years. It kind of flipped it on its head.”
‘Winning charity awards are things I’m most proud of’
Beattie has won awards for her charity work around breast cancer awareness. In 2021, she won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year’s Helen Morrison Award and an MBE in 2023. In America, she was also awarded the Lauren Holiday Award for her contributions to the community…
“Football has a platform and I think it’s a responsibility that we all have as women in the game. That’s something I never took lightly and I have always respected the kind of platform we had and wanted to use it for good.
“Regardless of what I went through personally, it was never about me. It was about the bigger picture and trying to share stories and create communities within football, but outside it as well.
“Sharing my story, again, I never in a million years thought it would lead to awards, but they ultimately are probably the things I’m most proud of because they’re non-football related and it’s how you are as a human being.
“It’s a credit to football as well to really share the story beyond me. I was so blown away with the support of the football community and the way that they showed support in sharing that story is something I’ll never forget.”
‘Bay FC and NWSL challenge harder the expected’
Jen Beattie left Arsenal to join Bay FC in the NWSL last year (picture courtesy of Bay FC)
After leaving Arsenal for a second time, Beattie joined NWSL side Bay FC, marking the first time she would play in the USA…
“The NWSL is hard to watch with the time difference, but it was always a league that I was intrigued by. What Bay FC were trying to do as a club was really similar to the European style of football and I thought: ‘if I’m going to do it, it’s now or never’.
“It seemed like the right fit at the time and to go and have that experience at the end of my career, I feel really grateful for it. It was another challenge and probably even harder than I expected.
“That league is another level and physically really difficult. But as a kid from Glasgow to be living in California for the last year of playing, it was an amazing experience. I’ve got the palm tree tattoo to prove it.”
‘Special days being part of Scotland squad’
Jen Beattie announced her international retirement in January 2023
Internationally, Beattie earned over 100 appearances for Scotland. She helped the team qualify for their first World Cup in 2019…
“When I first stepped into the national team, we hadn’t quite made it yet. We then qualified for the 2017 Euros and the 2019 World Cup so to get two tournaments back-to-back were some of the most special days being part of that squad.
“Aside from qualifying from those tournaments, they are some of the best humans in terms of how much fun I had going in and meeting up with Scottish people every six weeks. I absolutely loved it, especially when I moved away when I was 18.
“To qualify for two major tournaments and know what that did for the country in terms of more girls playing and really having an impact on the development of the Scottish game back home is something that we’ve always tried to push, especially with the association. We’re trying to grow the game, the numbers and the investment.”
What’s next for Jen Beattie?
“I do love the media and broadcasting. I started doing it a fair few years ago and retiring from Scotland a couple of years ago, it gave me those international windows to try it and see if I liked it.
“It keeps you close to football, still keeps you talking about it and being amongst it. When you’re about to go live and that adrenaline is there, it’s the closest thing I’ll ever get to 90 minutes.
“I know for sure it’s what I want to do. I also watched my dad do it for so many years in Scotland and I will be that cliche kid who might try and follow his footsteps. Coaching is not on the radar at the minute.”