West Ham Women midfielder Lucienne Reichardt announces retirement

Lucienne Reichardt will retire from professional football at the end of the current season with Women’s Super League side West Ham Women.

The midfielder is only 28 but has made the decision to retire with her future beyond the game at the forefront of her thinking.

Speaking on her decision to retire, Reichardt told whufc.com:

“It hasn’t been an easy decision to make. It was one that I had to think about a lot and it was made harder by the fact that I have genuinely loved and enjoyed my time with West Ham.

“I’m 28 now and I’ve had to think about my career after football. I have been given the opportunity to take a job as a psychologist that starts this summer back in the Netherlands. For me, it is a big opportunity and I spoke a lot with my family about it.

“Taking everything into consideration, I believe this is a big chance for me and the best decision I can make at this point in my life.”

Reichardt has made 20 appearances for the Hammers this season with 11 of those coming in the league.

West Ham would leapfrog Bristol City into sixth-place in their debut WSL season if they can get their eighth win of the campaign against Brighton on the final day of the season.