‘Be unapologetically yourself’ - Man Utd ‘keeper delivers inspiring speech after lifting award

The Red Devil’s number one won the award for Best Women’s Goalkeeper at FIFA’s The Best last night after a stunning year for both England and Manchester United.

Earps has enjoyed a phenomonal 12 months for club and country, keeping a total of four clean sheets during the Lionesses European Championship success while she has been pivotal to Manhester United as they have risen to top spot in the WSL.

However, despite her huge success on the pitch, it was Earps’ emotional speech after winning the coveted award that become one of biggest and most emotional moments of the evening.

“Thank you to everyone who vote for me. I feel honoured to be holding this trophy. I just want to say thank you so much to my loved ones who have picked me up off the kitchen floor to be here today” she said on receiving the trophy.

“Thank you so much to all of my team-mates, without them this wouldn’t be possible. The coaching staff at Manchester United and England but particularly Ian Wilcock and Darren Ward.

“Anyone who has every been in a dark place, just know that there’s light at the end of the tunnel. keep going. You can achieve anything you put your mind to. Sometimes success looks like this, collecting trophies, sometimes it’s just waking up and putting one step in front of the other. There’s only one of the you in the world, and that’s more than good enough. Be unapologeticly yourself. Thank you everyone.”

The speech received huge applause from the footballing world with the likes of Manchester United and England team mate Alessia Russo posting: “Absolutely no one more deserving!!! So, so proud - you superstar” on her official Twitter page, while Ella Toone praised Earps by adding “Wow !! So deserved Mazzaaaaa. Proud”.

Earps, who joined the WSL giants from Wolfsburg in 2018, became the first WSL goalkeeper to reach 50 career clean sheets after the side’s 1-0 win over Reading in January and has been cited as the best goalkeeper in the world by United head coach Marc Skinner who cited he “would not swap Mary for another goalkeeper in the world’’.

Well done on your award Mary from everyone at ManchesterWorld - it is well deserved!