Karen Carney OBE won 144 caps for England between 2005 and 2019, making her the Lionesses’ third most-capped player. She played at four World Cups and four European Championships and for Team GB at London 2012, with club spells at Birmingham City, Arsenal, Chicago Red Stars and Chelsea. She was appointed MBE in 2017 and OBE in the 2024 King’s Birthday Honours.

Since retiring she has become a lead pundit for men’s and women’s football: Women’s Super League lead for Sky Sports from 2021, then ITV from 2022 and TNT Sports from 2024, including ITV’s coverage of the men’s Euro 2024 final and England’s Euro 2025 win. She co-hosts the podcast Long Story Short with Jill Scott.

In 2022 the Government appointed her to chair its independent review of women’s football. Raising the Bar, published in July 2023, made ten strategic recommendations, including fully professional top two tiers, a salary floor, a dedicated broadcast slot and equal access to school sport for girls, all of which the Government backed.

In December 2025 she won Strictly Come Dancing with Carlos Gu, becoming the first footballer to win the show. In February 2026 she joined the investor group behind Birmingham City Women, and in August 2026 she received the PFA Merit Award. She speaks on team performance, resilience and culture.