Lionesses: Why Hannah Hampton's history makes her perfect Mary Earps replacement for Euro 2025 | OneFootball

Mary Earps’ retirement leaves a void to fill but history suggests Hampton can do just that

It might not have been the path that she’d envisioned when she was top-scoring for the Villarreal boys’ youth teams, but Hannah Hampton is England’s goalkeeper 15 years later.

The Chelsea shot-stopper succeeds the recently retired Mary Earps in her third major tournament for her country, but this time it is her name that will emblazon the back of the No1 jersey at this summer’s European Championships.

It has been quite the journey for the 24-year-old, who has cemented her place as one of the world’s best goalkeepers following an unbeaten campaign at Chelsea and a golden glove to boot.

In December 2023, she had made it. Women’s Super League No1? Done. At the defending champions? Even better. To have impressed Emma Hayes? Sensational.

But the international stage represents an entirely different challenge. Hampton has experience of usurping a safe pair of hands, when she took over from Zecira Musovic in west London, but succeeding Earps, who many have deemed England’s greatest ever goalkeeper, thrusts her even further into the spotlight.

Hampton, who had multiple operations by the age of three to correct her strabismus – a condition that affects depth perception – is relishing the opportunity to strut her stuff at Euro 2025 in Switzerland.

“It’s been a bit of a whirlwind,” she chuckles.

“Did I think I’d be sat here in the position that I am as a young girl? Absolutely not. Am I proud and looking forward to the challenges ahead? Yes.

“I’m going to try my absolute best to fill the gloves of the ‘keepers before and the success they’ve had. They’ve had ups and downs in their careers and fought out of that to be in the positions that they are today. I’m probably one of them.”

For someone that had already faced plenty of adversity, Hampton was dealt another blow in 2022, dropped by Sarina Wiegman for attitude problems, with many believing that her England career – at least under the Dutchwoman – was over.

Hannah Hampton is relishing chance to “live up” to Mary Earps’ legacy

Getty Images

Hampton, however, fought her way back, and regained her place in March 2023.

“I think I can say that I’ve proved people wrong,” she asserted.

She now needs to prove her doubters wrong again as she takes over the mantel from Earps, a huge dressing room personality that knitted the squad together.

“She put women's goalkeeping on the map for the younger generation,” Hampton said.

Living up to Earps’ legacy presents quite the test. She was in goal for England’s first major tournament victory since 1966 and named the best goalkeeper in the world two years in a row. There is also a World Cup golden glove holder and the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award to add to the list.

Hampton also has a former WSL golden glove winner, Khiara Keating, and the record NWSL clean sheet bearer, Anna Moorhouse, breathing down her neck for good measure.

They are behemoth gloves to fill. Only for someone who can really overcome a challenge.

Helpfully, Hampton has honed a real knack for that.