Sophie Howard (footballer)

Sophie Howard

Howard playing for TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in 2016
Personal information
Full name	Sophie Louise Howard[1]
Date of birth	(1993-09-17) 17 September 1993 (age 31)
Place of birth	Hanau, Germany
Height	1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s)	Defender
Team information
Current team	Leicester City
Number	5
Youth career
	Sportfreunde Oberau
	SV Phönix Düdelsheim
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2012–2014	UCF Knights	63	(3)
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2009–2012	1899 Hoffenheim	42	(1)
2013	Colorado Rapids Women
2014–2015	Colorado Pride
2015–2018	1899 Hoffenheim	63	(1)
2018–2020	Reading	17	(0)
2020–	Leicester City	57	(1)
International career^‡
2012	Germany U20	2	(0)
2017–	Scotland	41	(3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13:27, 3 July 2023 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 10:25, 29 September 2023 (UTC)

Sophie Louise Howard (born 17 September 1993) is a footballer who plays as a defender for FA Women's Super League club Leicester City. Born in Germany, she has been a member of the Scotland national team since 2017.

Club career

On 8 June 2020, Reading announced that Howard had left the club after her contract had expired.^[2] In August 2020 Howard signed for Leicester City ahead of the 2020–21 FA Women's Championship season.

Sophie Howard (15) with Leicester City in April 2021

International career

Howard played twice for the Germany U20 national team in 2012. She was named in Germany's squad for the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Japan, but did not get to play in any matches. In 2016 she was called into a training camp for England's new "Next Gen" team. She said: "Although I was born and brought up in Germany it's always been my ambition to play for England, and hopefully I’ve now taken my first step."^[3]

In March 2017 she was called up into the Scotland national team. The Scots had three injured defenders and were allowed to pick Howard because her grandfather is Scottish.^[4] She made her senior international debut on 11 April 2017, as a 64th-minute substitute in a 5–0 friendly defeat by Belgium in Leuven.^[5]

Career statistics

International appearances

Scotland statistics accurate as of match played 29 September 2023.^[6]

Year	Scotland
	Apps	Goals
2017	4	0
2018	8	0
2019	4	1
2020	3	0
2021	5	0
2022	9	0
2023	8	2
Total	41	3

International goals

Scores and results list Scotland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Howard goal.^[6]

List of international goals scored by Sophie Howard

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	28 May 2019	Hampden Park, Glasgow	Jamaica	3–2	3–2	Friendly
2	21 February 2023	Pinatar Arena, San Pedro del Pinatar	Wales	1–0	1–1	2023 Pinatar Cup
2	21 February 2023	Hampden Park, Glasgow	Belgium	1–1	1–1	2023–24 UEFA Women's Nations League

References

1. "FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Japan 2012 List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. 14 September 2012. p. 5. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
2. "🙏 Reading FC Women issue thanks as out of contract players depart". Reading F.C. 8 June 2020. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
3. Leighton, Tony (23 August 2016). "Howard's way is a boost for Next Gen coach Spacey". The League Paper. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
4. Lindsay, Clive (29 March 2017). "Scotland women: Signeul hopes to add Barsley and Howard to squad to face Belgium". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
5. "Under-strength Scotland fall to Belgium". Scottish Football Association. 12 April 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2017. Anna Signeul made a further change on the 64th minute, replacing one debutant with another, as the impressive Vaila Barsley made way for Sophie Howard.
6. Sophie Howard at the Scottish Football Association

External links

• Sophie Howard – FIFA competition record (archived)
• Sophie Howard at the Scottish Football Association
• Sophie Howard at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim (in German)
• Sophie Howard at DFB (also available in German)