Eni Aluko quits football

Former England striker Eni Aluko has announced her retirement from football.
The 32-year-old, who wore 102 caps for the Lionesses, left Juventus in December after nearly 18 months with the Serie A champions and had been tipped to return to the Women’s Super League.
Posting on Twitter, before linking to a full letter on the Players Tribune, she wrote: “My dear friend football, it’s time to hang up my boots and retire as a professional footballer.
“Thank you football for everything you’ve given and taught me. Thanks for the full circle moments and crazy unexpected journey.”
Aluko, who played for Birmingham, Charlton and Chelsea in England as well as having a brief spell in North America, was part of the Great Britain team at the London 2012 Olympics.
In her letter, entitled: “Dear Football,” she wrote: “When we met … I was just a girl from a council estate in Birmingham. I could never have imagined the crazy, unbelievable journey you would take me on.
“You have given me the dream of playing in the US, the pride of representing England, the thrill of winning titles with Chelsea, the adventure of playing for Juventus in Italy.
“Whenever I have faced obstacles, you have shattered them. Whenever I have had great expectations, you have exceeded them.”
In her post, Aluko added that “there have been other moments when I have thought about leaving” football.
“I’m talking about the racism, the abuse on social media, all that,” she said.
“Women do not earn much in football, we play because we love the game. Sometimes I have thought: ‘Is it worth it? Do I love you enough?’ And every time the answer has been yes.”
The forward, who is also a trained lawyer, scored 33 goals for England in 102 appearances but didn’t play for her country again after 2016.
The following year, she said she was subjected to “bullying and discrimination” by then-England coach Mark Sampson, which led to the Football Association making a public apology to Eluko after an investigation found Sampson had used racially discriminating remarks towards her and Drew Spence in 2014 in what were described as “ill-judged attempts at humour.”
As part of the case, it was revealed that an £80,000 financial settlement was secretly struck by the FA with Aluko to halt her grievance complaint against Sampson ahead of the European Championships in 2017.