Sophie Howard: Scotland defender on going from retirement thoughts to thriving in WSL
- Published
Leicester City defender Sophie Howard wants Scotland to aim high after a poor Nations League campaign
Defender Sophie Howard has revealed she had retirement thoughts before going on to thrive with Scotland and Women's Super League side Leicester City.
The 30-year-old, who has 44 caps for her country, is in her fourth season at Leicester, who are seventh in the WSL after earning top-flight promotion during Howard's debut campaign.
Howard "feels right" at a club she classes as a "second home" - but the move came after she had doubts about continuing her career following a tough two-year spell at Reading.
"I fell out of love with football," she said on the latest Behind the Goals podcast.
"I was at a point it could've gone either way. I could've finished completely because I didn't enjoy what I was doing.
"I didn't even have my family around to distract me at Reading. I also never managed to set up a life outside of football. It consumed me so much. I had to find a way to fall back in love with the game.
"That's why I signed for Leicester, even though they were in the Championship at the time. It took a couple of years for us to get to the point we're at now. I can see where the club wants to go, it feels right."
Howard has been a Scotland regular under Pedro Martinez Losa, whose side are looking to bounce back in the Pinatar Cup after a deflating Nations League campaign.
The Scots picked up just two points from six games, resulting in relegation from League A, but Howard is demanding a response in games against the Philippines on Saturday and Slovenia or Finland next Tuesday.
"This group can do so much more," the centre-back said. "We've got things to put right, that has to start now with the very first camp.
"I'm optimistic because I know what we're capable of. For that we need to use any opportunity to put things right, work hard and make sure when the [Euro 2025] qualifiers come, we're ready to compete with the best."