Earps and Zelem say goodbye

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Sunday 30 June 2024 11:12

Mary Earps and Katie Zelem this week bid goodbye to Manchester United Women.

The pair are set to depart following successful and transformative stays at the club, ending on a high after winning the Women’s FA Cup for the first time in our history in May.

News of Earps and Zelem leaving the Reds was received with well wishes for the future as well as fans reflecting on the years both spent with the club. Zelem, a childhood United fan, joined the Reds in our inaugural campaign in 2018 was made captain in her second season. The midfielder helped us achieve Champions League football in 2022/23 and will forever be remembered as the skipper who led us to FA Cup glory.

Earps has also been a key part of our team since her arrival in 2019 and has since won a whole host of individual accolades, including FIFA’s The Best Women’s Goalkeeper for 2022 and 2023.

Zelem’s departure was announced on Thursday and the 28-year-old posted a goodbye message on Instagram.

Katie Zelem: One of our own Video

Katie Zelem: One of our ownOur emotional video pays tribute to Katie Zelem, whose time as a Red has come to an end…

“WOW, what a journey!,” she wrote.

“From signing in the championship to captaining my childhood club in the first ever champions league game. Words don’t do justice for the unimaginable dreams, that I have been able to achieve here.

“From first pulling on the kit at 8 years old, I had no idea where this journey would take me. Lifting the FA cup with Manchester United is and will forever be, one of my favourite moments of my career.

“The players I’ve met over these 6 years are nothing short of remarkable. When times were tough, it was always the players who stuck together and pulled each other through – that’s what made this team so special.

“Thank you to everyone who resolutely supported me over the years. Your unwavering support didn’t go unnoticed and for that I’ll be forever grateful.

“For 6 years I gave everything possible to Manchester United, both on and off the pitch. For me, now is the right time for a new challenge and I’m looking forward to my next chapter❤️”

Katie’s statement has been liked by more than 41,000 people, with her United team-mates among the first to comment well-wishes. Read some of the comments below:

Ella Toone: “One of the OG’s ❤️ thanks for all the laughs and all the memories Zel & for all the fight you gave on & off the pitch!! We will miss you xx”

Maya Le Tissier: “My padel partner, going to miss you so much – you deserve the best❤️”

Gemma Evans: “Thankyou for everything, goodluck in your next chapter❤️”

Millie Turner: “❤️”

Gabby George: “No words do it justice❤️ … we will miss you skip 😢 thank you for everything x”

Safia Middleton-Patel: “Thank you for everything ❤️”

Grace Clinton: “🥺❤️”

Lisa Naalsund: “❤️❤️”

Men’s first-team goalkeeper Tom Heaton also commented: “Congratulations Katie, amazing journey 👏🏻👏🏻”

Thank you and good luck, Mary Video

Thank you and good luck, MaryA salute to Mary Earps’s proud United career, in which she helped us make history by being unapologetically herself…

On Saturday, it was announced that Earps would end her five-year stay at the club, and she also posted on Instagram to reveal this news to her followers:

“Dear the United family,

“After 5 years of service to your great club, I have decided that it’s time for a new challenge. It’s a decision I’ve gone backwards and forwards on for some time, and is not one I’ve made lightly. The club is about to undergo a period of transition, and unfortunately I don’t feel it aligns with the timing of where I’m at in my career, therefore I think now is the right time to make a change and embark on a new challenge. There aren’t the right words, or enough words, to express my heartfelt gratitude to you all, but I hope the below comes somewhere close.

“I’m proud to have played every league minute for the badge for the past 5 seasons, and even more proud for us as a team to have broken the record of the most clean sheets kept in a season in 2023. The icing on the cake was winning the FA Cup at Wembley, a trophy I’ve always dreamed of winning, with you all singing at the top of your voices. I could list so many more of my favourite memories, but these in particular I’ll cherish.

“I have loved playing in front of you all, near and far but especially at Leigh Sports Village and Old Trafford. It doesn’t feel real that I won’t be playing in front of you all again next season, and I’m sad we’re saying goodbye. But from the bottom of my heart, thank you. Thank you for your incredible support over the years; the ups and the downs, I’m grateful for it all.

“To my teammates, there have been some special people to grace our changing room over the past 5 years. I’m fortunate to have stood alongside you all and I’ll be rooting for you.

“Although this United chapter has sadly come to a close, I take with me a heart full of incredible memories. Thank you for welcoming me as one of your own and letting me be a part of your club. I wish you all the very best for the future and I hope I can continue to make you proud in my next chapter.

GGMU.

Your number 27,

Mary x”

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Earps’s post was also commented on by a host of past and present United women’s and men’s players:

Ella Toone: “Mazza 😢 grateful to have played along side you for all these years, you’ve been my go to person for a lot of it and give me some of the best advice. I’ve gained a friend for life & I can’t wait to see you in your new chapter ❤️ love you x”

Maya Le Tissier: “😢😢 will miss you saving our lives🥰”

Jayde Riviere: “You are and always will be H.E.R!! Keep being unapologetically yourself mearps. Best of luck.”

Safia Middleton-Patel: “My real life wonder woman! You’re the best thing to cross paths with me! You deserve this so much!!! Go shine ❤️🌟”

Katie Zelem: “One of a kind 🐱❤️”

Gabby George: “We will miss you Mearps ! Thank you for everything 😢❤️”

Patrice Evra: “Merci for everything you done for us ❤️ 🙏”

David De Gea: “🙌🏼👏🏼”

Best of luck to you both in your next chapters, Katie and Mary. Once a Red, always a Red.

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Sunday 30 June 2024 11:12