Karen Bardsley’s City career in numbers | OneFootball

On this day in 2013, goalkeeper Karen Bardsley joined City...

Here, in an article first published shortly after her retirement from playing in 2022, we look back at 'KB's wonderful career stats...

An established England international, the goalkeeper became the Club’s second signing of the season ahead of the team’s official relaunch and first Barclays Women's Super League campaign in January 2014.

She signed exactly seven days after fellow Lioness Jill Scott had made the switch to City, forming part of our first-ever professional side.

Nine years and over 100 appearances later, Bardsley called time on her distinguished career, before returning to City in November 2022 as Project Officer.

To celebrate her birthday, check out some of the numbers that defined her City career below…

2-4

The scoreline from the penalties that decided the 2018/19 Continental Cup final.

With City and Arsenal having ended a tense 120 minutes of football without a goal at Bramall Lane, it came down to the lottery of a shootout to decide who would emerge victorious.

And it was KB who stepped up to be the hero, denying Leah Williamson and Danielle van de Donk from 12 yards to allow Janine Beckie to sweep home the decisive kick.

One of many memorable performances from the goalkeeper during her time at the Club!

WATCH: Classic highlights: City win 2019 Continental Cup

103

The number of appearances that Bardsley made during her time at the Club.

She is one of only two goalkeepers to make over a century of appearances for City, alongside Ellie Roebuck, with 53 in the WSL, 10 in the FA Cup, 27 in the Continental Cup and a further 13 in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.

But for a few frustrating injury setbacks, that already impressive tally could have been even greater.

64

The amount of clean sheets KB earned between the sticks at City.

It remains the most of any City goalkeeper during our professional era, equating to roughly 62% of the England international’s appearances.

That included a remarkable 56 in domestic competitions, and another eight on a European setting.

WATCH: Manchester United 1-3 City: Classic highlights

3 in 4

The number of clean sheets Bardsley kept in the four major finals she featured in.

Those include our first trophy since the team’s official relaunch, which came courtesy of a 1-0 win over Arsenal in the 2014 Continental Cup final.

Fast forward to 2017, and Bardsley put in another assured display in a 4-1 FA Cup final triumph over Birmingham City, before keeping both Arsenal and West Ham United at bay en route to a Cup double in 2018/19.

Bardsley was, undoubtedly, a big game player, claiming five major honours during her time at the Club while also being part of eight silverware-winning squads.