Millie Bright: Former England and Chelsea captain on abuse, retirement and the future

When Millie Bright announced her retirement on Wednesday, her mother gave her a letter.

But Bright continues to struggle with emotions Her big announcement She says she couldn’t read them all.

The 32-year-old retired from England duty last year and has now left Chelsea having won 294 games, eight Women’s Super League titles, six FA Cups and four League Cups.

In the year In 2022, the Euro winner returned home to her family farm in Sheffield and is celebrating her father’s 60th birthday – an event she misses while playing and training.

Surrounded by her family and beloved horses, Bright said she was “at peace” with her decision to retire, which she described as the most challenging of her life.

“Physically and mentally, I’m ready to say goodbye,” Bright told BBC Sport.

“For me personally, the mental side of things… life was very difficult, and the amount of abuse I had was too much to deal with.

“Last year I lost myself as a person, and I think it took me a long time to rebuild myself.”

Bright England withdrew from the Eurogroup. In the year She says that she felt that she could not give 100% mentally and physically in 2025 and that announcement took a huge toll on her. Abuse.

“It was difficult because I was trying to do the right thing for me and the team. I didn’t expect it to happen to me,” she said.

“I expected people to be like, ‘Why are you making this decision?’ I can put up with that, but to question my integrity, passion and commitment to play… I absolutely cannot accept it.

“We’re still people, we have lives outside of football and I think that’s forgotten 99% of the time.”