Stephanie Labbe (35), the Canadian Olympic gold medalist goaltender, announced today that she will be retiring from the game after the upcoming women’s international friendly in the spring.

She had already left her club, Paris St Germain, after the winter break.

“Steph’s leadership, performance and confidence this summer demonstrates the impact she has on Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team. said Bev Priestman, head coach of Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team.

“I can’t think of a better way to come out after such dedication to the program than with the world-class performances we have consistently seen from her on the biggest stage possible to win a gold medal for this country. .

“I know Steph is ready to move on to the next phase of her life and on behalf of the team and Canada Soccer, I want to thank Steph for her tireless commitment and what she has done for this country, she will be sorely missed.”

First called up for her country in 2004, the same year she started playing in the USL W-League for the Edmonton Aviators, Labbe has represented Canada at three FIFA World Cups, two Olympics and four Concacaf tournaments.

She won a Concacaf championship in 2010, a bronze medal at the Olympics in 2016 and of course a goal at the Olympics last year. She also won three Concacaf silver medals.

To date, she has earned 85 full international caps keeping clean sheets in more than half (44), including a new record nine clean sheets in 2021. This helped Labbe earn second place in the vote for Canada Soccer’s Player of the Year, and a Top 3 FIFA Goalkeeper Nomination for the 2020-21 season.

In club football, she also played for New England Mutiny before turning professional with Pitea IF in Sweden. It was also in the Scandinavian country where she helped KIF Orebro finish second in the league in 2014.

Another second place was on the way, this time across the Atlantic with Washington Spirit in the NWSL.

Another stint in Europe saw Labbe play Champions League football with Linkopings FC (Sweden) in 2018 after which she returned to the NWSL where she won the Championship and Shield with North Carolina Courage (2019) .

His last two clubs were both European; FC Rosengard (formerly Swedish giants Malmo FF’s women’s team) and Paris St Germain for whom she has just finished playing.