Hannah Hampton: England hero's remarkable journey from doctor heartbreak to Euros glory
Hannah Hampton saved the day for England against Spain in the Euros final - and her journey to the top has been anything but straightforward.
Hampton kept out two penalties as the Lionesses defended their European crown, having made big stops from Esther Gonzalez and Claudia Pina in regular time. The Chelsea stopper justified Sarina Wiegman 's decision to make her England's number one keeper ahead of Mary Earps, even if some didn't agree with the call at the time.
Those were big shoes to fill, but it was no problem at all for Hampton.
Even longer ago, though, a medical condition might have stopped Hampton's football career before it even started. She had been diagnosed with strabismus, an eye condition which affects depth perception, but didn't let her stop that chasing her dream.
"I was told from a young age that I couldn't play football, that it wouldn't be a profession I could pursue. But here I am,' Hampton told the BBC earlier this summer.
Her road to the top hasn't been an easy one in more than one way, but the Euro 2025 run is testament to the 24-year-old's resilience. She saved two penalties in the shoot-out against Sweden in the quarter-final, including a sensational stop to turn Sofia Jakobsson's effort onto the post.
And then, in the final, she kept out efforts from Mariona Caldentey and Aitana Bonmati before Chloe Kelly put away the winning spot-kick.
For some, though, Hampton's best and most crucial moment came even earlier in the tournament.
In a must-win group game against the Netherlands, her inch-perfect pass out to Alessia Russo helped start the move from which Lauren James opened the scoring in a 4-0 England win. Without that, the Lionesses might have found themselves going home long before Hampton produced those heroics in the knockout rounds.
"Every player has their one story and journey and hers has been incredible,' England boss Wiegman said. 'Starting the tournament and losing the first game, there was so much riding on every game, we had five finals.
'She had to step up and I think she has been amazing. It's a little bit like a fairytale to stop those two penalties in the final."
Hampton stressed the run to glory was a team effort, saying after the final: 'We never say die, we keep going and we did that today.'
That team effort wouldn't have been possible without two things, though - Wiegman giving the young keeper her backing, and Hampton delivering.
England's manager made a number of big decisions in the lead-up to the tournament and continued along that path in Switzerland.
Her decision to call up teenage forward Michelle Agyemang paid off handsomely, with the youngster scoring crucial goals against Sweden and Italy, while there were some bold calls in defence throughout the tournament itself.
England's manager had a lot to lose by backing Hampton over Euro 2022 winner Earps, but her bravery in making the call is part of why she's now celebrating yet another sensational triumph.
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive y our daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Lionesses Bring It Home Again - Souvenir Edition
Sarina Wiegman's legends have made history and brought football home once more after defending their title and winning Euro 2025 in Switzerland. We have produced this special souvenir edition of the Women's Football News.
It is crammed with interviews with the Lionesses, special features, their match-by-match road to glory as well as dozens of amazing images. Click here to buy
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Belfast Telegraph
2 minutes ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Larne had to ‘wear our hearts on our sleeves' to book Euro progress, beams boss Nathan Rooney
Larne boss Nathan Rooney heaped praise on his side for 'wearing our heart on our sleeves' after another memorable European night for the club. The Invermen booked their place in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League thanks to a dramatic penalty shoot-out victory away to Prishtina.
North Wales Chronicle
3 minutes ago
- North Wales Chronicle
It still does sting – Beth Shriever using Paris pain as fuel for world title bid
Shriever went into last summer's Games as favourite to defend the BMX racing title she won in Tokyo three years earlier, and certainly looked the part when dominating the early rounds. But in an event where it can all go wrong in the blink of an eye, Shriever paid a heavy price for a poor start in the final and came in last. 'It hit me in the following weeks or months,' Shriever told the PA news agency. 'I'd just think about it or dream about what happened. And it still does sting. 'It was a tough pill to swallow at the time, but it only made me hungry for this year and going forward.' The 26-year-old tried to channel her disappointment into her winter training, only to hit another roadblock. A lump in her collarbone proved to be a screw coming loose following the fracture she had suffered only two months before Paris, forcing her back to the operating table. 'I think everything happens for a reason,' Shriever added. 'I think I just need a whole reset, I needed a break.' A post shared by Bethany Shriever MBE (@bethanyshriever) Having rushed back from the initial injury in order to make Paris, now Shriever took her time. After waiting only three weeks from the first surgery to get back on her bike, now it was 10 weeks. She returned to competition in Verona in March, but it took some getting used to. 'I was really nervous, scared,' Shriever said. 'In practice I was riding like a novice. It took me a good few races to settle in and get into it. I've not experienced that before. I can usually get into it like that. 'As soon as I was back into it and enjoying myself, we were off. But being back in that environment again was a shock to the system.' From the outside, Shriever made it look easy enough, taking a win on the second day of racing. When the World Cups started, a second place in Sarrians, France was followed with victory in Papendal in the Netherlands. A post shared by Great Britain Cycling Team (@gbcyclingteam) The real confirmation she was back came earlier this month as she won her second career European title in Valmeira, Latvia. 'It definitely meant a lot,' she said. 'It's definitely cemented where I'm at. I'm in a good place.' The goal now is to follow up in Copenhagen, where Shriever is targeting what would be the third rainbow jersey of her career, the last having come on home turf in Glasgow in 2023. 'After Paris, I wanted to… not prove… well, maybe it is to prove to everyone what I am capable of,' she said. 'I think everyone saw it but it's to actually deliver it and get something back. There's nothing better than that. So I'm ready to lay my cards out, give it my best and see how we get on.'
Belfast Telegraph
3 minutes ago
- Belfast Telegraph
‘His work ethic is phenomenal': Linfield boss David Healy hails his new star man after Euro joy
Kieran Offord celebrates scoring his stunning goal for Linfield The 21-year-old, who joined the Blues from Scottish side St Mirren in January following a successful five-month loan spell with Crusaders, lit up Windsor Park on Thursday with a stunning goal against FK Zalgiris, helping his team book a slot in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League. Star man Joel Cooper may have left Linfield in the summer to take up a new challenge with big-spending Coleraine, but Offord has the potential to become the new darling of the Blues' faithful. It wasn't only his goal that had the fans drooling on Thursday, but his overall performance – on and off the ball – he tied the Lithuanian side in knots at times. Matthew Fitzpatrick got the Blues off to the best possible start by heading them in front after only six minutes before Offord unloaded a stunner from 25 yards, which arrowed into the bottom corner. Read more It could have been much more comfortable for Healy's boys because the usually reliable Chris Shields fluffed his lines from the penalty spot in the first half. 'Kieran produced a bit of individual brilliance when we needed it with our second goal,' stated former Northern Ireland international striker Healy. 'At the time, I thought he was going to try and slide Fitzy (Fitzpatrick) in, but he showed great belief in his own ability to score a brilliant goal. 'He is a pleasure to work with; Kieran is a wonderful young man with so much natural ability. Once he learns to develop the rest of his game; the other parts of his game that needs tidied up, he'll become a top player. 'His work ethic is phenomenal… we all witnessed that against Zalgiris. His desire and his hunger to improve is there. I firmly believe once everything clicks for him, we'll have a heck of a player on our hands.' Kieran Offord impressed for Linfield against Zalgiris Healy admits he's always been an admirer of the Scottish Under-19 international. He added: 'I watched Kieran playing for Crusaders when he just joined them. He was up against the Welsh team (Caernarfon Town), in a European game. 'He was a little bit raw… he probably had a few question marks, but I turned to Willie McKeown (Linfield head of recruitment), after about an hour and said to him, that boy is going to have a chance. 'He started the season well for the Crues and scored a lot of goals. I knew about his ability, but what impresses me is his desire to improve.' Healy insisted it was a shrewd business move by the club when Offord and Callumn Morrison arrived at Windsor Park in the January transfer window. Read more 'It's probably the first time we've done that,' he went on. 'There were probably a few raised eyebrows, inside and outside the football club, when we conducted our transfer business in January. 'At that time, we had built up a 15 or 16-point lead at the top of the League table. It looked to everyone else like it was just a matter of time before we won the title, although it wasn't as obvious to me. 'The important thing about getting Kieran and Callumn to the club at that time was to give them three or four months, basically as a pre-season. They played some games, they missed some games and, at times, they basically had a watching brief. 'It was important for them to get a feel for me; to get a feel for the rest of the players instead of coming in over the summer and having two-and-a-half or three weeks before the European games. 'I wanted the new lads to be acquainted with the group of players. Yes, we lost in the Champions League (to Shelbourne), but the boys (the squad) are getting fitter – I think that was evident against Zalgiris. Linfield manager David Healy applauds the Blues fans after victory at Windsor Park 'The win was fully deserved. There were moments in the game, if we had been a little bit tidier, it could have been a bit more convincing.' Linfield will now face Faroese side Vikingur Gota in the third qualifying round – the first leg will be in Iceland next Thursday. 'We feel we have an opportunity, although it's going to be a tough game,' added Healy. 'It's certainly not an impossible task… it's probably a 50-50 game. 'We have been to the Faroes before… it was HB Torshavn a few years back. It doesn't give us much time, but I don't mind that. 'We have a team that gets to work right away. We came off the back of the Shelbourne game, but within 24 hours we were doing our homework on Zalgiris. 'I enjoy that, so does the staff. From a coaching aspect, it's good development, good learning. People like Ross (Oliver), George (McCartney), and Lindsay Corry, we all get our heads together to set out what we want to do. It's always key in terms of how we set up. 'We are not going to get to see Vikingur before we play them next week, so we must rely on footage. I know they lost their first game in the Champions League, so we'll assess that, move forward and try and progress.'
