Fran Kirby: The truth about me, Earps and Bright quitting the Lionesses

Fran Kirby was at home when the first domino fell. She was alone, and the phone pinged. That was how she learned she would not be the only Lionesses legend staying at home for Euro 2025.

When the 31-year-old announced her shock decision to retire from international football earlier this month, it followed news that Mary Earps had hung up her gloves. Days later, England vice-captain Millie Bright would also pull out of contention for this summer’s tournament in Switzerland, citing burnout.

“It’s always going to be news when players retire from their national team,” Kirby says. “Obviously when you have Mary, who’s been a massive advocate of the women’s game making that announcement, I remember I was in my bedroom and I was like ‘oh no!’

“Because it was already a thought in my mind that it was going to be a possibility as well. But everyone has the moment that they want to make that announcement and as players, we respect it.

“You always respect when you’ve given so much to the game and so much to your country for such a long time, you only make that decision if you know 100 per cent it’s the right decision to make.”

No England crisis – ‘I respected Sarina’s honesty’

The trio’s withdrawals inadvertently rocked England as they prepare to to defend the European Championship title won in 2022. Sarina Wiegman was forced to play down talk of a “crisis”; it was put to her that she might be too blunt with her players. She put it that she is just “honest”.

Wiegman had told Kirby that she was unlikely to be picked in her 23-player Euros squad, which convinced her to quit altogether in an “emotional” conversation with the head coach.

“It’s tough for an athlete, it’s tough for someone to be told that, but I really respected the honesty,” Kirby insists. “I can only speak for my own experience with her but I really respected the way she tried to look out for me.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 31: Players of England pose for a team photograph prior to the UEFA Women's Euro 2022 final match between England and Germany at Wembley Stadium on July 31, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Lynne Cameron - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
Five of England’s Euro 2022 XI will not be at this summer’s tournament (Photo: Getty)

“She said ‘look you’ve made this decision, I’ve told you you’re not going to the Euros, you’ve told me you’re retiring, do you want to go home and mentally be able to decompress it?’ I said ‘I want to be here for the team, I want to train hard, I want to be here, I want to enjoy my last few days as an England player’.

“For me she was great in that period but I can imagine it was tough for her to tell me and there was moments of emotion from both of us, which is normal, we worked together for such a long time. I have nothing bad to say about my experience because I’m proud of my international career and I’m really proud and happy with the way it ended.”

After that final training session, they took a picture together. The Brighton forward then entered the dressing room after England’s 2-1 defeat to Spain in Barcelona to tell her teammates face to face. There was “sadness”, but it was important to Kirby that the squad “didn’t find out through social media”.

By then, they were already well-versed in receiving bombshells. When they heard about Earps and Bright, Kirby reveals that there was “no panic”, only a determination that “we need to carry on moving forward”.

‘Millie is really, really brave’

Earps had flown from her new home in Paris to sit down with Wiegman and tell her personally, having been informed she was no longer first choice in goal and would go to Switzerland as Hannah Hampton’s back-up. Bright, meanwhile, said she was “not able to give 100 per cent mentally or physically”.

“When someone makes that decision, it’s for a reason,” Kirby says.

“Millie’s come out and spoken about her mental health, which I think is really, really brave to make that decision, to put that first. Now she’s had the knee surgery as well to make sure that she’s ready for next year.

“Obviously Mary has her reasons. For me, I will just respect everything that they’ve done when they put on an England shirt and the way that they’ve paved the way for the younger players coming through who have learned off those players in that environment.”

Though their decisions have been bundled together, Kirby admits she “had no idea about the other two”. She only knew that years of injuries and health scares – including her diagnosis with a heart condition – had taken their toll. She did not want to be on stand-by for the squad when she knew she “can’t give everything in training”.

“There’s been things that have happened this year with my body that have made me aware that maybe you can’t keep doing this at this level consistently all the time.”

Who are England’s leaders now?

The loss of three senior players will inevitably lead to questions about leadership in the dressing room, particularly as seven England players have never been to a major tournament before.

“But when I look in the squad, I don’t see a lack of leaders,” Kirby is adamant.

“For you guys from the outside, you maybe don’t see what we see on the inside in terms of leadership. And it might be a younger player who actually steps up and takes that leadership role.

“So, yes, of course, you’ve lost in terms of numbers of caps, in terms of tournaments. But I look at the likes of Lucy Bronze, Alex Greenwood, Keira Walsh, Georgia Stanway, Beth Mead – there’s still a lot of leaders in that team.”

(FILE PHOTO) Fran Kirby Announces International Retirement LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 31: Fran Kirby of England celebrates with the UEFA Women???s EURO 2022 Trophy during a post match photoshoot after their side's victory during the UEFA Women's Euro 2022 final match between England and Germany at Wembley Stadium on July 31, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
Kirby with the Euro 2022 trophy (Photo: Getty)

Her own international career, now that is over, is all the more remarkable because of what she overcame to win the Euros, 77 caps and score 19 goals. And that is how she hopes to be remembered.

“As someone who gave everything when they put the shirt on… as someone who never gave up and always kept fighting.

“I am able to leave a squad that I am really, really proud of and walk out with my head held high, knowing that I gave everything because I loved playing for my country. These were the most incredible moments of my life and my families’ lives. I am so proud I was able to do that.”

Fran Kirby was speaking at an event hosted by ticket marketplace Viagogo



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