"Representing Northern Ireland since I was 15 has been the greatest honour of my career. Being part of the journey to our first ever major tournament was a dream come true, and I will cherish that memory forever. Thank you for your amazing support over the years. While it's scary to step away from the game I love, I am excited for the new chapter ahead."
"Rachel has been such an important part of the transition period over the last 18 months. Her leadership and ability to set the right standards every single day has enhanced our culture immensely and that will be hard to replace, I can't wait to see her embrace and succeed on her next journey, and we will all miss her around the group massively."
Rachel Dugdale, aged 28, has retired from international and professional football after earning 43 caps for Northern Ireland. Her final appearance came in a 1-1 Nations League draw with Bosnia-Herzegovina in June. Dugdale made her Northern Ireland debut in March 2016 against Slovakia at the Istria Cup and missed the 2022 European Championship due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury. At club level, Dugdale played for Doncaster Rovers Belles, Eagles Women (US university), Charlton Athletic, Coventry United Ladies, Reading Women and most recently Blackburn Rovers Women. Blackburn withdrew from the Championship in May and now compete in the fourth tier. Tanya Oxtoby praised Dugdale's leadership and cultural influence within the squad.
Read at www.bbc.com
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