'I lost myself' - Bright on retirement, abuse and the future

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Bright on retirement, abuse and future

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

But as Bright continues to wrestle with the emotions of her big announcement, she says she has been unable to read it all.

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

A Euros winner in 2022, she has returned home to her family's farm in Sheffield and is celebrating her dad's 60th birthday - the sort of event she would have previously missed while juggling playing and training.

Surrounded by her family and beloved horses,Bright says she is "at peace" with the decision to retire after what she describes as the most challenging two years of her life.

"Both physically and mentally, I have been ready to say goodbye," Bright tells BBC Sport.

"The mental side of things for me, personally... life's been very difficult, and the amount of abuse I have dealt with has been too much to handle.

"I think over the past year I have lost myself as a person, and it has taken me a long time to rebuild myself."

Bright withdrew from England's Euros squad in 2025, as she felt she was unable to give 100% mentally and physically, and says that announcement led to her receiving a significant amountof abuse.

"It was difficult because I was trying to do the right thing for me and the team. I didn't expect the abuse," she says.

"I expected people to be like: 'Why are you making this decision?' I can tolerate that, but to question my integrity, my passion and dedication as a player... I can't ever accept that.

"We are still humans, we have a life outside of football and I think that is forgotten 99% of the time."

Bright's playing career has crossed the two eras of women's football.

She started out at Doncaster Belles, playing in front of smaller crowds before her move to Chelsea took her to venues such as Stamford Bridge and Wembley.

Only the second England player - after Bobby Moore in 1966 - to lead the national football team in a World Cup final, Bright shared the Golden Boot with Barcelona's Alexia Putellas at the Arnold Clark Cup in 2022.

She has faced many physical struggles, saying she played injured for the past six years.

Bright has not played for Chelsea since February because of an ankle problem, and has also had two knee surgeries.

It was the thought of going into another pre-season injured after a rehab she described as "anything but smooth" that contributed to her retirement.