Casey Stoney

Chelsea and Arsenal

Stoney joined Chelsea Ladies, aged 12, before moving to Arsenal Ladies in 1999.

Charlton Athletic

Already an England international, Stoney joined Charlton Athletic Ladies in the summer of 2002 in search of regular first-team football. She also took up a scholarship at The Football Association's National Player Development Centre at Loughborough University. In a successful first season Stoney captained Charlton to their first FA Women's Cup final.

She led Charlton to success in the FA Women's Premier League Cup in 2004, the FA Women's Cup in 2005 as Charlton beat Everton 1–0, and the 2–1 victory over Arsenal in the 2006 Premier League Cup. When Charlton disbanded their entire women's section following the relegation of Charlton Athletic men's team in 2007, Stoney said: I'm disgusted with the club – the men get relegated and we get punished. The club's only trophies in recent years have been won by the women's team – and in the last four seasons we were the only side apart from Arsenal to win major honours. Seven weeks ago we played in front of a record crowd at the FA Cup final – that's now our last match and I'm totally gutted for everyone involved on the women's side. I just hope that what has happened to us doesn't reverberate around the women's game – otherwise it will be in serious trouble.

Return to Chelsea

In July 2007, she signed for Chelsea Ladies along with Charlton and England teammate Eniola Aluko. In February 2009,…

England

Stoney came through England's under-age squads, making her debut for the senior team in August 2000 as a substitute against France. She was named in the provisional 30-player squad for Euro 2001 but did not make the final list of 20 and remained on the standby list. She made her first start in March 2002 against Norway, and, after spells in central defence and at right back, went on to become England's first choice left back. In February 2003 Stoney wore the captain's armband when regular skipper Karen Walker was substituted in a 1–0 friendly defeat by Italy. Her first senior international goal came as England beat Portugal 4–0 in the Algarve Cup in March 2005. Stoney was named in the squad for Euro 2005, hosted in England, but remained unused as the hosts made a group stage exit. Her disappointment was such that she considered retiring from international football. But by the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup in China, Stoney, preferred to Rachel Unitt at left back, was one of four England players to play every minute of every match as they lost a quarter final 3–0 to the United States. Stoney won the Nationwide International Player of the Year award for the 2007–08 season, ahead of Anita Asante and Alex Scott. In May 2009, Stoney was one of the first 17 female players to be given central contracts by The Football Association (FA). At the Euro 2009 final tournament in Finland, Stoney recovered from a red card in a 2–1 opening match defeat by Italy to help England…

Chelsea

In February 2009, she became Chelsea Ladies' player-manager until June 2009, following the resignation of Steve Jones.

England

Following her retirement in 2018, Stoney joined Phil Neville's backroom team in the England women's national team.

Manchester United

On 8 June 2018, Stoney was appointed as the first head coach of the newly formed Manchester United Women. Stoney's first game in charge of United was a North West derby victory in the League Cup. In the inaugural season, United won the FA Women's Championship title and promotion to the FA WSL; winning 18 of 20 games and losing only once. In addition to the division title, Stoney guided United to an FA Cup quarter-final and League Cup semi-final, beating four WSL teams in the process. On the opening weekend of the 2019–20 FA WSL season, Stoney managed United in the team's first Manchester derby in front of a crowd of 31,213, an English domestic women's league record. Manchester United lost 1–0, but prevailed six weeks later in the League Cup to earn her and the club's first Manchester derby win, beating Manchester City 2–0. On 8 November 2019, Stoney signed a contract extension with Manchester United, keeping her at the club until 2022. During the season, Stoney was a vocal critic of the quality of refereeing within the WSL, calling it "substandard" following United's 1–0 loss to Chelsea on 17 November 2019. Stoney's United, again, drew considerable media attention in February 2020…

In November 2012, Stoney was named 50th on The Independent newspaper's Pink List of influential lesbian and gay people in the United Kingdom. On 10 February 2014, Stoney first publicly acknowledged that she was a lesbian. She is in a relationship with her former Lincoln team mate Megan Harris. On 16 July 2014, she announced that Harris was pregnant with twins, who were born on 8 November 2014. Stoney's third child was born on 12 December 2017. In May 2015, the University of Essex awarded Stoney an honorary degree. Stoney was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2015 Birthday Honours for services to football. Stoney was inducted into the WSL Hall of Fame in May 2026.