Jen Beattie retires after glittering career: ‘I’ve loved every second of it’
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Scotland and Arsenal legend hangs up boots after an 18-year career winning 14 trophies and recovering from breast cancer in 2020. “My favourite thing of all is how fun it was,” Jen Beattie says with a smile. “There would be some training sessions where we would be warming up and I would joke to teammates that this is the best job in the world, and it absolutely is. I’ve loved every second of it, even all the hard stuff.”.
![[Sophie Downey]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2022/06/06/Sophie_Downey.png?width=75&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
As the curtain comes down on a glittering career, she reflects on her time as a player with nothing but pride. The 33-year-old Scotland defender announced her retirement on Tuesday after an 18-year journey that has taken her around the world. She has lifted silverware 14 times and made history with her country at their first World Cup.
![[Jen Beattie is presented with an award by Vic Akers to commemorate her time at Arsenal in February 2024]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/befe40ca4823550d2d2fde6ee509f3214a66c895/0_116_5424_3443/master/5424.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
As the daughter of John Beattie, the former Scotland rugby international, playing professional sport is clearly in her family (her brother Johnnie was also a professional rugby player). Growing up in Glasgow, she started her senior career at Queen’s Park before moving to Celtic. It was not long before Arsenal came calling and she moved to London aged 18.
![[Jen Beattie rises to score for Scotland against Argentina at the 2019 World Cup]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/30897ddfcef6c1f72bcada4c0a19c390b60da365/106_297_3557_2134/master/3557.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
During her first stint at the club, she helped the Gunners lift four domestic titles, two FA Cups and two league cups before heading over to France and Montpellier. An original participant of the Women’s Super League, she came back to England in 2015 and signed with Manchester City. She became a stalwart of their defence and claims those days “were some of my favourites of my entire career” as she increased her medal haul. Sandwiched in between was a loan to Melbourne City during the English off-season where she added the W-League title to her collection.
