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Millie 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 amount of 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."

Chelsea captain Bright retires - what now for ex-England defender? 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.

She hopes the abuse she has faced has made her "10 times stronger" - but it has had a lingering impact.

"I just hope we look after the game and we don't allow it to become a toxic place," she says. "I'm so proud that it's been a family environment, we've taken care of each other and not tolerated abuse, but I think it's starting to creep in.

"It's come a long way, but let's make sure we keep it on the right track."

Bright says the pressures and sacrifices that come with being at the top of the game for such a long time can take their toll, and turning 30 changed her perspective on life and her priorities.

She could have carried on playing for Chelsea - or potentially elsewhere - but says it would not have felt right.

"I always said I would retire at the top and retire at Chelsea, so as much as I could've kept going, I'm tired, my body is tired, I'm ready for a rest," she says.

"It's nice that I can feel like it's my decision, I've taken control and I'm at peace with it.

"My mum wrote me a letter, which I'm yet to read fully because I can't get through it so I need to wait until I'm less emotional. The outpouring of love and support has just been incredible."

But what comes next? One of Bright's passions is horses, and she hinted at the possibility of running her own yard in the future.

For now, she is focused on resting, recovering and reflecting.

She will remain involved with Chelsea as an ambassador and is a trustee of the club's foundation, which will fuel her desire to give back to the game.

"Firstly, I just need to breathe, relax, heal and fix my foot," she said. "I'm really excited, I've got no boundaries, I'm off the leash now!

"I've always said we all have a responsibility as players to leave the game in a better place and keep it moving forward so I don't think my job's done, even now I'm retired."

Ben Haines, Ellen White and Jen Beattie are back for another season of the Women's Football Weekly podcast. New episodes drop every Tuesday on BBC Sounds, plus find interviews and extra content from the Women's Super League and beyond on the Women's Football Weekly feed.

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