Mary Earps On Stepping Back, Showing Up And Making Goalkeeping Cool

For over a decade, Mary Earps has followed a routine: training, playing, recovering. Rinse, repeat.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had more than 12 days off consecutively,” she says. “The football schedule is crazy hectic.”

This summer, though, has been different. Following her recent decision to call time on her England career, goalkeeper Earps is embracing a new chapter in her life – giving her mind and body a much-needed break and making up for lost time with loved ones.

“This is my first time in a while not preparing for a major tournament. So, it’s been a different kind of summer,” she tells me.

“[Being a footballer] comes with a lot of sacrifice. You don’t get to see your family and friends as much, so I’m really happy that I’ve been able to show up for them this summer in a way that I probably haven’t been able to previously. As you get a little bit older, that becomes even more important to you… So that’s been a real blessing.”

Earps had been part of the England setup since 2008 through the youth teams and played eight years for the senior side, the Lionesses, from 2017 to 2025. A key member of their Euro 2022-winning team, she earned 53 senior caps.

Her decision to retire five weeks out from the Women’s Euro 2025 surprised fans and critics alike. She even felt “villainized”, but the 32-year-old knew it was the right decision at that time.

Now, watching the Lionesses on a TV screen or from the stands at the Euro 2025 stadiums in Switzerland, Earps is experiencing the game from a new perspective.

“I can watch from a different angle, really enjoy and support the girls in a different way,” she said. “I’ve been keeping in touch with them and chatting a little bit. These are girls with whom I’ve got some unbelievable memories, I’ve grown up with… I’ve seen these girls more than I’ve seen my own family in recent years. So, I’m just filled with a lot of pride.”

Using Her Platform For Women’s Sports

A strong advocate for women’s sports, Earps is also using her “time off” to work with brands that align with her goals. One such is the deodorant label Rexona – also known as Degree, Sure or Shield, depending on the country you’re in.

Rexona and Earps are collaborating to promote the visibility of women’s sports and encourage more girls to play football.

“I’m really happy that I’ve been able to have the time to do activations like the Play on Pitch with Rexona and bridge that gap between elite performance and grassroots… get to feel the excitement of it and see how much it means to people who support the game. Because we’re all working together to try and achieve the same goal,” she said.

Trying to show up in as many women’s sports spaces as possible is one of her goals. She attended the women’s singles final at Wimbledon, the England vs Wales match at the Women’s Euro, and hopes to be part of the upcoming Women’s Rugby World Cup and ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup.

Earps believes that all women’s sports have similar barriers and “we can all help, learn and elevate each other”.

“It’s all about standing on each other’s shoulders, continuing to push women’s sports into a more incredible place,” she added. “I keep saying that women’s sports is a high-speed train that isn’t stopping any time soon. So, you either have to get on or get out. I’m happy to be a small part of that journey.”

Making Goalkeeping Cool

Back home in England, Earps has had a massive impact on the growth of the women’s game.

Apart from her Euro 2022 winner’s medal, Earps also has the Golden Glove from the 2023 World Cup and two FIFA Best Goalkeeper awards in her trophy cabinet.

For Earps, though, it has never just been about personal accolades. Part of her mission has been shifting the perception of goalkeepers, both on and off the pitch.

In 2023, she publicly questioned sportswear giant Nike over the unavailability of her replica jersey during the Women’s World Cup, sparking widespread debate around goalkeeper visibility in the women’s game. A petition that gathered more than 170,000 signatures pushed Nike to eventually release the shirt.

“A big part of what I do is trying to make goalkeeping cool, and that’s something that I’m really proud of,” she said.

Goalkeepers have long been overlooked in the sport’s commercial space, with most marketing efforts focused on “the sexy strikers,” as Earps has put it. But she believes the narrative is beginning to shift.

“You can see how the marketing world and the world in general have changed in terms of how they look at goalkeeping. It’s a very highly criticized position, that comes with a job, but you can see from a player’s point of view, goalkeepers are being involved in campaigns about visibility.

“Representation matters so much. You can’t be what you can’t see. For me, to be part of this campaign with Sure alongside Lucy Bronze, Alexia Putellas, two incredible players, I think just shows you hopefully where goalkeeping is going and that the perception is changing.

“It’s really important that young girls and boys look at TV marketing campaigns, billboards or social media, and they see someone who looks like them.”

What’s Next With PSG

While Earps has stepped away from international duty, she remains firmly in the thick of club football, preparing for her second season with PSG in France’s Division 1 Féminine.

In July 2024, she took the bold decision of ending her five-year journey with Man United and signed for the Parisian club, reportedly becoming the world’s highest-paid women’s goalkeeper.

Ending the last season with a runners-up medal – after PSG were beaten by Lyon in the final – Earps wants to push for silverware in the 2025-26 campaign.

“First and foremost, I want to win. I want to win trophies. Hopefully, we can have a good Champions League campaign…. But, I think what I’m most proud of from the last season is my ability to step out of my comfort zone and make a bold decision to move (to France) and how I felt that that really improved my game,” she said.

“I’m looking to kick on another level next season. I’m really enjoying my time at PSG so far. I hope I can continue that into my second season because the first season’s always a bit of a transition.”