Casey Stoney retires from playing career to join new England manager Phil Neville’s backroom team

Liverpool and England defender Casey Stoney has announced her retirement from playing and will take up a new role as part of new England women coach Phil Neville's backroom team.

Stoney won 130 caps for her country and was captain of Great Britain at the London 2012 Olympics.

She was part of the England team that reached an all-time high of third in the Fifa world rankings and won a bronze medal at the 2015 World Cup.

Stoney played for Arsenal, Charlton, Chelsea, Lincoln and Liverpool in an extremely successful cup career, winning both the FA Women’s Premier League National Division and the FA Cup four times.

She will join Neville’s team at the SheBelieves Cup in the United States next month.

Stoney, 35, said: “Although I am sad to be hanging up my boots, I do so proud of what I have achieved and with great optimism about what the future holds for the women's game.

“With that in mind, I am hugely excited about starting my next chapter as part of Phil Neville's Lionesses backroom team.

“I am thoroughly looking forward to working with Phil, who is an excellent choice to take the women's game forward.

“I talked to him at length before accepting the job and was hugely impressed with his vision, passion and eagerness to learn. I will be doing everything possible to support him alongside finishing my coaching badges.”