The City and England skipper registered the super century on her 100th City appearance, as Gareth Taylor‘s side kicked off the 2020/21 league campaign with victory at newly-promoted Aston Villa.
Impressively, the defender achieved the feat in just 140 games and fittingly, kept a clean sheet at Villa Park with the title hopefuls securing the perfect start to the new campaign.
100 – Steph Houghton has become the first player in @BarclaysFAWSL history to register 100 victories, doing so in just 140 appearances. Landmark. pic.twitter.com/slIdAxHMmG
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 5, 2020
The captain took to Twitter to express her pride, writing: “A win and a clean sheet to start the season from the girls!
“Proud to have made 100 appearances for Man City in the Barclays FA WSL.
“More to come!”
A win + a clean sheet to start the season from the girls! 👏🏻💥
— Steph Houghton MBE (@stephhoughton2) September 6, 2020
Proud to have made 100 appearances for @ManCity in the @BarclaysFAWSL ..more to come! 💙 pic.twitter.com/vocmSLXwvt
One of the first signings made when the Club turned professional in 2014, Houghton had already enjoyed domestic glory with Arsenal, savouring double league, FA Cup and League Cup successes, in addition to a Premier League Cup triumph with Leeds.
During a six-year spell in Manchester, she has tallied 175 appearances, scoring 15 goals - 11 of those free-kicks! - and has led City to a clean sweep of domestic trophies, including a league and cup double in 2016.
Adored for her commitment, leadership and consummate professionalism, the 32-year-old is beloved by all involved within the women’s game and is the ultimate role model for budding footballers - female or male.
In January 2014, she was awarded the England captaincy on a permanent basis and has since clocked more than 100 caps for her country, guiding the Lionesses to a bronze medal at the 2015 World Cup, plus victory in three Cyprus Cups and the 2019 SheBelieves Cup.
Also an Olympian, she starred in the 2012 Games, scoring three times as a left-back for Great Britain in London to become the team’s record goalscorer.
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A true legend of the game, her outstanding contribution to women’s football was recognised in 2016, as the centre-back was awarded an MBE, while she also became the first female player to appear on the cover of Shoot magazine.
Over the past few years, she has also shared her expertise via television punditry in both men’s and women’s games.
In January this year, she penned a new two-year deal at City and with five trophies to play for this year, the skipper will be hoping to break more records and add more silverware to her already glittering collection.
Congratulations, skip! Here’s to the next 100 wins!
