Jodie Taylor announces retirement from football - 'I am at peace with the decision'

Former England international Jodie Taylor has announced her retirement from football.

The forward spent the second half of last season at Arsenal, but she has now decided to bring her career to a close.

The 37-year-old has played in six countries over the course of her time in football, winning 51 caps and scoring 19 goals for England.

"I am at peace with the decision to retire and it's my choice," Taylor said.

"I think [that] is really important. [It's] really fortunate that I'm in the position to make that decision for myself."

Taylor won the UEFA Champions League at Lyon, while she played for Tranmere Rovers, Birmingham City, Melbourne Victory, and also in Canada and the United States for seven different teams.

She won the FA Cup with Birmingham City, the W-League Championship with Melbourne City, the Svenska Supercupen in her time at Goteborg, and with England won the 2019 She Believes Cup.

Taylor first played for Arsenal in 2016-17, and rejoined the club in March, making another eight appearances for the club.

"I think before I even stepped foot on the plane to go to Arsenal at the end of last season I kind of knew it was going to be my last stint playing," she said.

"It's a club that I love so much and respect so much, and to have the opportunity to be back there and them to welcome me knowing it was going to be my last game, it's pretty special."

"I'm happy that the time has come now - it's the right time."

Looking back on her career, she noted the 2019/20 Champions League triumph with Lyon as one of her highlights.

"That was brilliant. In terms of club and domestic football I think that's the pinnacle, the absolute best you can do in football," she said.

Taylor was the Golden Boot winner at the 2017 Women’s European Championship, having made her debut for England at the age of 28 in 2014.

She said: "I must say, the proudest moment of my career is being resilient, being persistent, still working hard, still having the belief that I could play for England.

"Being able to get my first cap at 28 is quite rare, so I'm really proud that I stuck with it and I was able to get in there, and then all the other experiences I had with the Lionesses."

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