Alyssa Naeher, the goalkeeper for the U.S. women’s national team, is retiring from international football. She is renowned for her ability to remain composed under duress.
After playing for the United States for 11 years, Naeher was on the team’s roster for two forthcoming games in Europe, but those will be her final games.
The U.S. team that won the gold medal in this year’s Olympics in Paris, France, and the Women’s World Cup in 2019 had Naeher as their starting goalie. She is the only American goalie to record a shutout in an Olympic final as well as a World Cup.
In stoppage time, she made a crucial one-handed save to keep the Americans’ Olympic final victory over Brazil at 1-0. At the final whistle, Mallory Swanson, who scored the lone goal, sprinted the entire length of the field to embrace Naeher.
On Monday, Naeher made her retirement public on social media.
“Every grin and celebration in the moments of success was made even more wonderful by every tear shed during the difficult times and failures. Being a member of this team has been unique, and I am really proud of everything we have accomplished on and off the field,” she stated. “I will always cherish the memories I have created over the years.”
Throughout her career, Naeher has been renowned for her poised and steady leadership. Only three goalkeepers have played for the United States in more than 100 games, including her.
Naeher made her national team debut in 2014 and supported Hope Solo during the United States’ victory in the 2015 World Cup. After the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, she was a regular starter for the team and was a member of the 2019 World Cup winning side.
Naeher has made 113 appearances in her career, starting 110 of them, recording 88 victories and 68 shutouts. During the course of the French Olympic competition, she had four shutouts. She played for the United States in three World Cups and three Olympics overall.
Since 2016, the 36-year-old has also been a member of the National Women’s Soccer League’s Chicago Red Stars. Next season, she intends to play for Chicago.
The United States will travel to Europe to play the Netherlands in The Hague on December 3 and England at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.
Apart from her Olympic save, Naeher has experienced numerous other noteworthy events. In the 83rd minute of the 2019 Women’s World Cup semifinal match against England, she blocked Steph Houghton’s penalty kick. The Americans defeated the Netherlands 2-0 in the final after winning 2-1.
Naeher converted a penalty kick herself, tucking the ball into the corner of the net, and made three saves in a penalty shootout against Canada earlier this year in the CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup quarterfinals.
