Karen Carney has a huge army of football fans – but can she win Strictly Come Dancing viewers over with her fancy footwork, too?

The former Lioness thinks she has “a little bit of rhythm” thanks to childhood dance classes, although she admits the “magnitude” of Strictly 2025 isn’t the slightest bit comparable.

Here is everything we know about Karen, including her age, why she retired from football, and what she’s been doing since hanging up her England boots.

Who is Karen Carney? How old is she?

Karen was born on August 1, 1987, in Solihull, West Midlands. This makes her 38 years old. Her father, Michael, worked as a firefighter. Karen’s mother, Marie, worked in a local supermarket.

Karen’s family has always been mad about football and passionate Birmingham City Football Club supporters. Admitting her support for the club was “non negotiable”, Karen was kicking a ball around by the age of six.

Speaking about her school days, Karen told Birmingham Living magazine: “I was totally obsessed. I was the only girl that played and I remember a teacher saying, ‘The little one’s quite good’. On the back of that potential, the school started a five-a-side team and we won a trophy.”

Karen enjoyed children’s dance lessons at her local Steptoes Dance School, too, taking classes in hip-hop and disco. But her full attention soon turned to footie.

Age 11, Karen joined Birmingham City Ladies. By 14, she was making her first-team debut for Birmingham City in the FA Women’s Premier League National Division.

After finishing school, Karen attended Loughborough University. Once she had graduated, she began looking for jobs as a receptionist. But she knew where her heart truly lay. Football.

What teams did Karen play for?

Karen’s skill and talent meant she did not stay with Birmingham City FC for her entire career. In 2006, she moved to Arsenal Ladies. Karen stayed with the Premiership club for three years, juggling football with her studies at uni.

In 2009, Karen made the bold decision to jump Stateside. America had announced a new professional league and Karen was selected to play for the Chicago Red Stars. She remained with the club for one season, competing in 21 matches.

Home was calling by 2011 and Karen returned to Birmingham City. Her relentless goal-scoring made her a first team player. During her four-year reign, she played in 50 matches for the club and scored 12 goals. Karen became the first woman inducted into Birmingham City’s Hall of Fame in March 2015.

Karen ended her Premiership career at Chelsea after a two-year transfer. Following one game in her first season with Chelsea, manager Emma Hayes said: “Karen Carney was at the heart and the core of everything, especially in the first half, and she looks like she’s been playing at Chelsea for years.”

Karen ended up extending her contract into a third year. Her final season with Chelsea was 2018 to 2019.

When did she play for England?

Karen was still in her teens when she became a Lioness. She was picked for the England squad age 17. At the time, it made her one of the youngest players to pull on the famous white shirt.

Karen made her England debut in 2005. She went on to score a last-minute goal at the UEFA Women’s Euro 2005. Karen’s goal won the Lionesses the game against Finland. The sportswoman went on to win FA Young Player of the Year in 2005 and 2006.

In total, Karen scored 32 goals for England and earned 144 caps. She is now the third most-capped Lioness, behind Jill Scott and Fara Williams.

Her achievements on the pitch earned her an MBE in 2017 for services to football, and she was inducted into the National Football Museum’s Hall of Fame in 2021.

Karen also represented her country at the London 2012 Olympic Games. She was selected for the Great Britain’s women’s squad and played in all of England’s four games.

Why did Karen Carney retire?

Karen Carney announced her retirement in July 2019. She bowed out after England’s third-place play-off at the Women’s World Cup. Karen’s decision surprised some fans, as she was just 31 at the time. But she said it had been a long time coming.

Karen had been on the treadmill of professional football for 15 years. By the time she reached her thirties, her body could no longer keep up with the demands she wanted to place on it.

Speaking to TheFA.com, she said: “I’ve probably known for quite a while now. My mind still wants to do everything and it can, but I don’t think my body can anymore.” She added: “My mind would want me to continue until I’m 100, but there’s a time when your body says enough is enough and I think I’ve got to that point.”

Although Karen made peace with her decision, it did come with some parting pangs. She confessed she would miss the little rituals that come with playing football, like singing the national anthem or “kicking the ball out on that pitch like a little kid”.

But Karen left knowing she had given it her all. Former England coach Phil Neville hailed her as “one of our greatest-ever players…and more importantly, an amazing person”. Chelsea boss Emma Hayes praised her for having “achieved everything she wanted to in her game”.

What is Karen Carney doing now?

Since hanging up her boots, Karen has built a remarkable second career that shows no signs of slowing down. She has become one of the most respected pundits in the game, appearing on TNT Sports, Sky Sports, Amazon Prime and ITV. Fans admire her ability to analyse football games while drawing on her own experience from playing.

In 2022, Karen was appointed Chair of the UK Government’s Future of Women’s Football Review. The role has seen her lead conversations about how to grow and professionalise the women’s game. She has also worked with corporate partners, including payment network Visa, to create career development programmes for female players who want to transition into business after football.

On top of that, Karen has returned to her roots by supporting community projects run by the Solihull Moors Foundation. She has visited schools and led Q&A sessions with young people, speaking about the life skills kids can develop through football.

The broadcaster is also currently pursuing a postgraduate degree in business. What an inspiration!

Where does Karen Carney live?

Although she was born in The Midlands, Karen now lives in London. But she still sees Birmingham as her home.

Karen told Birmingham Living magazine: “I’m just so proud of the people in general and I’d like to do more stuff in the city – not necessarily football related. I want to help Birmingham any way I can. I always want the city to thrive and want the best for it.”

Karen likes to return home whenever she gets the chance. She previously threw her name behind a National Lottery-backed campaign in Solihull Moors FC for non-league football clubs. Karen spoke fondly of “being here as a young girl both playing and watching football”. She described it as “a club that is very close to my heart”.

Who is Karen Carney’s partner?

Karen has always kept her personal life away from the public eye. She has never spoken in the media about relationships and prefers the focus to be on her career instead.

It remains unclear whether she is in a romantic relationship. On social media, Karen sticks to sharing posts about football-related projects.

Karen’s Strictly debut

When Karen was announced as one of the participants in Strictly 2025, she admitted even her former England roommate of 10 years, Alex Scott, had “no idea” she was part of the line-up. This is despite Alex competing on the BBC show herself in 2019. But Karen has said she will be asking Alex for tips!

Karen made her debut at the Strictly Come Dancing launch show last week, where she was paired with professional partner Carlos Gu. The pair are now set to show viewers whether Karen can transfer her skills from the football pitch to the ballroom.

How tall is Karen Carney?

Karen stands at 5ft 4ins tall. As a winger, she was known for her ability to glide past opponents and score goals. But can she glide across the Strictly Come Dance floor as well?  Karen’s height makes her a good match for professional dancer Carlos, who is 5ft 1oins tall.

When is Strictly Come Dancing next on?

Strictly Come Dancing will be back on BBC One and iPlayer on Saturday, September 27. The live show will air 6.55pm, and is expected to run for 2hrs and 30 minutes.

It will be the first time Karen – and the other celebrities who have signed up to Strictly this year – will perform with their partners for the judges.

Read more: Strictly Come Dancing’s Dani Dyer quits: The BBC show’s most tragic and unexpected exits

Strictly Come Dancing airs at 6.55pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Saturday September 27, 2025.