Rachel Daly focuses on club football after Lionesses retirement
The Guardian Sport • 2 min read • Latest: Aug 21, 2026, 12:48 PM
Last updated Aug 21, 2026

Rachel Daly, Aston Villa's captain, emphasizes her dedication to the Women's Super League as she prepares for the upcoming season. After stepping back from international duty with the Lionesses, Daly aims to be a role model while managing life outside of football, including a newfound interest in golf. With 19 seasons at the top level, she reflects on her journey since debuting at 16 and transitions to focusing solely on her club commitments. Aston Villa faces Chelsea in their next league match, providing an exciting opportunity for Daly to showcase her leadership.
- •Rachel Daly retires from international football with the Lionesses.
- •She captains Aston Villa in the Women's Super League.
- •Daly has played 19 seasons since debuting at 16.
- •Upcoming match against Chelsea provides a platform for Daly's leadership.
- 12:48 PMThe Guardian Sport — Aston Villa’s Rachel Daly: ‘It’s given me more of a focus: club football is my one job’
"Former England striker on retiring from the Lionesses, being a role model, and taking on Chelsea in the WSL A year after taking up golf, Rachel Daly has already reached a handicap of 19. “I think that’s too generous, I was playing really well in the summer,” she point outs before politely declaring that further questions about her pastimes are out of bounds. “I’m not that exciting, to be honest,” Daly says. “I walk the dogs, play golf. I don’t do a whole lot. I don’t lead a very exciting life.” Instead, Daly wants to talk about the new Women’s Super League season, which is more than fair enough. Coincidentally, by next summer, 19 will be the number of seasons Daly has played at the top level, ever since breaking into Leeds’ first team as a 16-year-old in 2008, and therefore it feels reasonable to disagree with her view that a former Olympian, who played 84 times for England and was the WSL’s player of the season just three years ago, does not lead an exciting life. Yet there is another number on Daly’s mind as she discusses her role as Aston Villa’s captain. Continue reading...
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