Hannah Wilkinson of the Football Ferns v Norway, Group Stage-Group A match of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup at Eden Park, Auckland. Photo: photosport
Football Fern Hannah Wilkinson who was a World Cup hero in Auckland but missed out on a finale in Paris has retired.
Wilkinson had a 14-year career with the national team including making appearances at four World Cups and three Olympic Games.
She scored New Zealand's only goal at the last Football World Cup in the tournament opener against Norway at Eden Park in 2023.
The 32-year-old who got 125 caps for the Football Ferns and 32 goals said in a social media post that this was not the way she wanted to end her career.
"It is with some sadness, but with great clarity and relief, to announce my retirement from the beautiful game," she wrote.
"It's not exactly the way I wanted to go out. I expected to wear the Fern for the final time at the Olympic Games in Paris, hoping to help redeem our disappointing early Women's World Cup exit last year.
"Blood, sweat, tears, puke (food poisoning at the qualifiers and pure grit to really make this a good, final one," she said.
"Instead, I found myself on an impromptu French holiday, thankfully with family, and thankfully with many Aperol Spritzes.
"In professional sport, there is only so much you can control. An opinion, sometimes without rational explanation, happens," Wilkinson said.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
"That opinion doesn't define me. I did let it for a little bit. That was a dark space. However, with time, I recognised what a fallacy that is. 14 years representing Aotearoa, 3 Olympic Games, 4 World Cups, and playing careers in the US, Sweden, Portugal, Germany and Australia.
"So many goals with so many celebrations. Medals, trophies, achievements, personal and team. That is what defines me," she said.
"Football shaped me into everything that I am, and gave me more opportunity, and more connections, than I could ever dream of. Thank you, football, thank you to coaches who developed me and saw me, and an even bigger thank you to all my support over the years. I gave it everything, and it was an epic ride.
"I am so excited for the next stage. The boots are hung up, but the canvases, the walls, are out and ready. I've never felt more alive in my creative space, and I'm so amped to see what manifests."
Wilkinson has been without a club since the expiry of her contract with Melbourne City at the end of the last A-League season.
The Football Ferns are looking for a new coach after Jitka Klimkova left the head coach role last month when she decided to move on after a workplace investigation.
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