Mary Earps Reflects on Career and Controversy in New Autobiography

Questions have arisen regarding Mary Earps’ decision to publish a tell-all autobiography while still actively playing, especially following her announcement of international retirement prior to the recent European Championship. Generally, athletes in similar situations tend to wait until retirement to share their stories.

In her book, titled ‘All In: Football, Life and Learning to be Unapologetically Me,’ the two-time Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper expresses her concerns about England’s head coach Sarina Wiegman. Earps suggests that Wiegman may have inadvertently rewarded poor behavior by recalling Hannah Hampton, a player who had previously been dropped, to the Lionesses camp, where Hampton later emerged as a key player during the penalty shootout in the Euros.

Furthermore, Earps criticized Wiegman for what she describes as a “clear lack of care for me and my welfare” before she lost her position as the team’s No. 1 goalkeeper. At 32, Earps has built a reputation for being forthright about her opinions, even at the risk of damaging relationships.

Former Lionesses player Eni Aluko shared her thoughts with Sky Sports regarding Earps’ decision to release her autobiography at this stage of her career. “I empathize with Mary, as I have faced similar situations where expressing discontent in the England setup led to criticism. She has every right to voice her perspective, and I dislike the culture that attempts to silence such voices.”

Aluko acknowledged that while Hampton excelled during the summer tournament, Wiegman is an exceptional coach whose timing in this matter might have been misjudged. “A book is timeless, and I question the necessity of releasing it now. Still, I sympathize with Mary and don’t want her to feel attacked. I’ve experienced that, and it is unpleasant.”

Lucy Bronze, Earps’ former teammate and friend, also defended her against the backlash following the book’s release, noting the scrutiny female players face in comparison to their male counterparts. “In a football team with 20-30 players, it’s unrealistic to expect everyone to share the same views, especially under high pressure.”

Earps stands firm in her convictions and hopes to resolve any lingering tensions with Wiegman. She anticipates discussions with the coach in the near future, recognizing that differences in opinion are natural in elite sports. With a storied career that includes winning Euro 2022 and earning 53 caps for England, she is currently playing for Paris Saint-Germain in France.