Former Arsenal and Manchester City defender Jen Beattie has announced her retirement from football.
The 33-year-old is looking back on a career that has spanned nearly 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,” Beattie said in an exclusive interview with Sky Sports News.
“There are so many different reasons, but at the end of the day it's been on my mind for a few seasons now. You never really know when the time is just right, but there were a lot of other things that really filled me and I was ready to start that next chapter.”
Here, she looks back on her playing career and what's next…
'The first Arsenal is a turning point in my life'
Beattie began his career at Celtic in his native 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 has always been the number one team. They won the European Cup in 2009 and right after that I got an invitation.
“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 U19 coach, who got the assistant job at Arsenal.
“It was the turning point of 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 the dressing room with Kelly Smith, Rachel Yankee, Alex Scott and all these players that I… d looked up to for so long, so it gave me an idea of what success looks like and what it takes to achieve it.
“But they were still semi-professional and there was no place for me on a contract basis. The opportunities to go full-time were elsewhere and Montpellier were looking for a centre-back. My brother was actually playing rugby there at the same time , so I had a bit of a comfort blanket.
“It was the best and hardest thing I've ever done, playing in the south of France. It sounds amazing 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 myself and it's so important to get through those tough 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 knocked every other club out of the park at the time – and the way they invested in the women's team. I'll never forget the call when they showed me the plans. That was the style of football and to come back to England, closer friends and family.
“One of the best decisions I ever made was signing for Man City. I have some of my most beautiful memories there, and I think I've made incredible progress as a soccer player as well.
“Nick Cushing, to this day, is one of the best coaches I've ever had and is playing with some top players and winning trophies again.”
Playing in Melbourne with Little, Fishlock and Catley
While at Man City, there was also a short loan spell at Melbourne City between 2015 and 2016 – a team that is also part of the City Football Group…
“We were summer league then and Melbourne played during the break so I didn't miss any football.
“They wanted to sign a centre-back and I thought 'I'd 100 per cent like to go and do that'. Again, those were some of the best four months of my life.
“Melbourne is an amazing city and I felt so safe in that City Football Group, learning a similar style of football. I played with my best friend, Kim Little, who came across us and Jess Fishlock, another amazing midfielder. There I met and 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 your friends and family, but football is about experience, growth and challenge. It was another one of those moments when it was beyond me. I lifted two more trophies .”
Beattie's diagnosis of breast cancer
Beattie returned to Arsenal in 2019 but missed 2020 after being diagnosed with breast cancer…
“I always give credit to Arsenal because I felt so supported, whether it was emotionally or physically, to go through something as difficult as breast cancer, to go through the diagnosis with tests and examinations.
“The hardest thing was to leave football to undergo the operation. All I wanted was to get back to the games with my mates, to get back to the competition and everything I craved, but that was the mentality 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 an amazing 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 amazing man, but he became a second dad in that moment, when you are away from friends and family.
“My perspective changed on football. I will always be competitive and chase trophies – it's built into me. I always wanted to play at the top with the best players, but enjoyment became more important or the connection with my teammates is what I really valued.
“Honestly, I enjoyed every day after that, regardless of the injuries or the selection or whatever. It brought me closer to my teammates. To win just one trophy after that doesn't sound like the most successful spell, but they were probably some of my most enjoyable years that kind of flipped on its head.”
'Winning charity awards are the things I'm most proud of'
Beattie has won awards for her charity work to raise breast cancer awareness. In 2021, she won the BBC's Helen Morrison Sports Personality of the Year Award and an MBE in 2023. In America, she was also awarded the Lauren Holiday Award for her contribution to the community…
“Football has a platform and I think that's a responsibility we all have as women in the game. It's something I've never taken lightly and I've always respected the platform we've had and wanted to use it for good.
“No matter what I've been through personally, it's never been about me. It was about the bigger picture and trying to share stories and create communities within and outside of football.
“Sharing my story, again, never in a million years did I think it would lead to awards, but in the end those are the things I'm most proud of because they're not about football and that's who you are as a human being. .
“It's also a credit to football that I really shared the story beyond myself. I've been so overwhelmed by the support of the football community and the way they've shown support in sharing that story is something 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 (Image courtesy of Bay FC)
After leaving Arsenal for the second time, Beattie joined NWSL side Bay FC, making her first time playing in the US…
“The NWSL is hard to watch with the time difference, but it's always been a league that intrigued me. What Bay FC was 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 felt like the right fit for me at the time and to go and have that experience at the end of my career, I feel really grateful for that. It was another challenge and probably even harder than I expected.
“That league is another level and physically it's really tough. But as a kid from Glasgow, living in California for the last year of playing, it was an amazing experience. I have the palm tree tattoo to prove it.”
'Special days to be part of the Scottish team'
Jen Beattie has announced her international retirement in January 2023
Internationally, Beattie earned over 100 caps for Scotland. She helped the team qualify for their first World Cup in 2019.
“When I first joined the national team, we hadn't made it yet. Then we qualified for Euro 2017 and the World Cup 2019, so the two tournaments back to back were some of the most special days when we were part of that squad.
“Apart from qualifying from those tournaments, they're some of the best people in terms of how much fun I've had going and meeting the Scots every six weeks. I absolutely loved it, especially when I moved away at 18.
“Qualifying for two major tournaments and knowing what that has done for the country in terms of more girls playing and really influencing the development of the Scottish game at home is something we've always tried to encourage, especially with the association. We're trying to grow the game, the numbers and the investment.”
What's next for Jen Beattie?
“I love media and broadcasting. I started doing it a few years ago and I retired from Scotland a few years ago, he gave me those international windows to try and see if I liked it.
“It keeps you close to football, it still makes you talk about it and be around it. When you go live and that adrenaline is there, it's the closest I'll ever get to 90 minutes.
“I know for sure that this is 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 cliché who might try to follow in his footsteps. Coaching is not on the radar right now. “