For 19 years, Becky Sauerbrunn has graced the 115 by 74 yards of a grass field, playing in stadiums across the world and she has finally decided to call it a day. Unwilling to make a grand spectacle of her retirement, the two-time World Cup winner opted for a more quiet departure, but while her playing days may be over, Sauerbrunn has no plans of leaving the pitch anytime soon. 

Looking back at her dream career, Becky Sauerbrunn’s trophy cabinet is filled with the highest honors from both club and country. Her individual awards alone would require a separate section to showcase. Speaking to Sam Mewis on The Women’s Game podcast, the defender expressed her desire to continue being part of the game. “I mean, I just love soccer too much to leave it and so if you’ll have me Sam, I’d certainly love to continue doing this pod with you and with Lynn,” says Sauerbrunn, who last played for the Portland Thorns.

With the amount of success former players have found starting their shows, Becky Sauerbrunn is poised to fit right into the segment. After all, she’s earned the nickname ‘The People’s Captain’. “Who knows like I just did this little broadcast boot camp at USC that was really cool so I got thrown into all these different sports media silos and just trying different things out,” Becky added.

So, perhaps we could see the three-time NWSL winner all dressed up, doing pre-match takes, player interviews, post-match analysis, and more. As a solid anchor for both club and country, she knows what goes on for the full 90 minutes, plus extra time. With 219 caps for the USWNT, she ranks ninth on the all-time list, having played 16,909 minutes—all of which she will dearly miss.

‘I’d do it all again’ – Becky Sauerbrunn on reliving her career

Becky Sauerbrunn says she’d do it all again in a heartbeat, except for maybe her USWNT debut, where she infamously broke her nose. The defender still hasn’t let go of the grudge against Melissa Tancredi, the player responsible for the unforgettable incident. Rivalry aside, Becky Sauerbrunn has been a solid center-back for years, earning a spot in the NWSL Best XI seven consecutive times and being named Defender of the Year four times.

More than the medals, the defender will miss the camaraderie in the dressing room, especially her best friend and former teammate Meghan Klingenberg. But the USWNT boasts a plethora of talent, and with Naomi Girma already being hailed as the best player Emma Hayes has ever seen, the defensive transition has been smooth. Perhaps we’ll soon see Sauerbrunn analyzing the young San Diego Wave defender’s game herself.