Steph Houghton was described as “one of the most inspirational England players of this generation” after the former Lionesses captain was honoured in a retirement ceremony at Wembley.
The 36-year-old was presented to the crowd before leading England out on to the pitch for Friday’s friendly against Germany.
Houghton won 121 England caps across 14 seasons and featured in three World Cups and two European Championships.
“To captain the side for as long as she did and through the times that she did, she really stepped up in the situation,” Nikita Parris, the 71-cap England forward, told BBC Sport.
“Right now we’re playing regular games at big stadiums like Wembley, but before this, people like Steph, Fara Williams and Jill Scott were going in and fighting for us to be on these stages.
“Without their hard work and sacrifice, we wouldn’t be able to play in stadiums like this in front of 90,000 people to win a home Euros.”
Parris, who has not been included in an England squad since November 2022, was part of BBC Radio 5 Live’s coverage team at Wembley.
She played with Houghton for Manchester City and England and praised the defensive stalwart for her leadership qualities.
“As a young player coming through, she gave me advice and put her arm around my shoulder but also gave me a kick up the backside when needed,” Parris said.
“We have been through ups and downs with the national team. Now everything is on the up – but then it wasn’t. Those were the players who showed their experience and what it takes to be an England international.”
Houghton retired at the end of last season and had not featured for her country since 2021.
She captained England to the bronze medal at the 2015 World Cup in Canada before runs to the semi-finals at Euro 2017 and the 2019 World Cup.
‘Everyone in this team has something to thank her for’
Midfielder Fran Kirby says “everyone” in the current England squad has “something to thank” Houghton for.
“She is unbelievable,” Kirby told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Women’s Football Weekly podcast. “Unbelievable in terms of her leadership, in terms of her drive in everything. In terms of being able to play in these big stadiums, to play in front of all of these amazing fans.
“She was someone at the very beginning who was going after that. I think everyone in this team has something to thank her for. She has been a massive trailblazer for the sport.
“A lot of people have seen what she has done on the pitch, but off the pitch she is one of the reasons why we are where we are today.”
Kirby, who played with Houghton for England on the biggest stages, added: “She is someone who stood up in moments when maybe [other] people wouldn’t stand up and fought for things when maybe [other] people would have gone ‘we’re not going to try that now’.
“She was someone who really drove that standard and that belief. I feel really fortunate now. She has obviously retired and she is an absolute legend.
“But for me to be able to sit here and still reap the benefits of something she has done, makes me feel extremely lucky and really, really humbled by everything that she did.”
Houghton made 242 appearances for Manchester City and is their most decorated player having won eight major trophies – four Continental Cups, three Women’s FA Cups and the FA Women’s Super League title in 2016.
The Durham-born former defender said: “It was the greatest honour and privilege of my football career to have represented England, and then to go on to captain my country for eight years.
“My time with England coincided with huge changes in women’s football, as we went through the period of amateur to professional.
“As I have said before, I hope that I left the game in a better place than when I came into it and that I contributed in some small way to giving the next generation of players a better future.
“I was fortunate to have played with amazing players and absolute legends of the game. I learnt from managers, coaches and support staff at every camp and tournament.”
