Karen Bardsley

Karen won 82 caps as a goalkeeper for England, and has lifted eight domestic titles: The FA Cup, WSL & League Cup trophies, with Manchester City FC. She also played in seven major international tournaments including the 2019 FIFA World Cup and represented GB at the London 2012 Olympic Games. She made her Lioness debut in 2005, and played her club football in the USA, Sweden and England, ending her career with Manchester City FC in 2022. Since retiring, Karen has forged a broadcast career in both men’s and women’s football working on domestic league coverage as well as international tournaments for the BBC. She was part of the BBC broadcast team covering the Lionesses in their 2022 and 2025 UEFA Women’s Euros victories and worked in Australia on the Women’s World Cup in 2023. She was also manager of the Manchester City FC Girl’s Academy until 2023. Raised in California to Mancunian parents, Karen is an avid and vocal champion for change in women’s sport and was appointed as an Independent Non-Executive Director for Women & Girls’ Football in Manchester in 2020 – the first professional footballer to sit on a County FA’s Board of Directors. Her task within this role is to continue the growth of women and girls’ participation in football across the city.