Sport

Women’s captain and ‘club legend’ Katie Zelem is leaving Manchester United on a free transfer

She came straight back when the club reformed and has been their ever since.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 27th June 2024

The exodus at Manchester United Women continues as team captain Katie Zelem confirms she will be leaving after seeing out her contract.

Zelem has been with Man United for six years and was appointed captain in her second season with the club, helping lead the side to their first trophy since reforming with the Women’s Championship title in 2018/19 and overseeing their first major honour by lifting the FA Cup last month.

The Oldham-born midfielder made 161 appearances and scored 32 goals for the Red Devils and has remained one of the most influential leadership figures throughout various iterations of the squad.

Having started out her career as a youngster wearing the iconic shirt, it was huge for the club and the fans to have her return years later and go on to wear the armband for half a decade.

Zelem becomes the latest player to leave the club on a free transfer after Lionesses no.1 and United keeper Mary Earps is set to move to PSG at the end of the month, alongside Spanish forward Lucía García following their contracts expiring.

ADVERTISEMENT

Not only will the departures come as a gutting blow for the supporters, with the 28-year-old being one of the most notable talents remaining from the Casey Stoney era, but it also marks another key player outgoing from which the club have failed to recoup any money.

This has been labelled as one of the biggest shortcomings club-wide, with the men’s team also letting big names run down their contracts and leave on a free for many years: women’s star Alessia Russio last season, then most recently the likes of David de Gea, Antony Martial and Raphaël Varane.

ADVERTISEMENT

As for ‘Zel’, it’s not lost on the fan base or pundits as to how much of a loss the England international who achieved so much in Europe and in red will be not just on the pitch but in the dressing room too.

The Athletic‘s Jessy Parker Humphreys wrote on social media: “Personally think that Katie Zelem is the biggest loss for United this summer. Not just club captain but a player who has embodied what United should be about and is still in my opinion underrated. Not someone easy to replace on a quality level or a leadership one.”

Read more:

Bidding farewell to the academy graduate and club servant who joined aged just 8, Manchester United Women said of Zelem leaving: “From our inception to our first major trophy and everything in between. She’s been with us through it all. Today we bid farewell to a legend.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Everyone at Manchester United would like to place on record their thanks to Katie for her excellent service and wish her the best of luck in the next phase of her career”.

With supporters having called for manager Marc Skinner to be replaced even despite their FA Cup win, fans have once again been left concerned following reports that the women’s team had been forced to move into portable facilities to make room for the men whilst Carrington undergoes a major refurb.

Neither Zelem nor García have issued any kind of statement addressing exactly why they are leaving or why potential contract extensions/new deals couldn’t be reached (though Earps did somewhat suggest that the ball was in the club’s court), but many believe less-than-ideal circumstances like this and prioritising one squad over the other may have factored players leaving.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — James Boyes (via Flickr)/Man United Women/Katie Zelem (via Instagram)

Sport

Roger Espinoza, part of Wigan Athletic’s famous 2013 FA Cup-winning side, has officially retired

Danny Jones Danny Jones Roger Espinoza Wigan retirement

Another member of Wigan’s FA Cup-winning side has decided to hang up their boots as Roger Espinoza has confirmed his retirement at the age of 37.

Espinoza’s most recent club was Sporting Kansas City, who he played for nearly 400 times across two different spells, but in between those two stints, he was part of the famous Wigan team that managed to beat a then resurgent Manchester City in the 2013 FA Cup final.

Now 11 years on, the former Honduran international has revealed that he is calling time on his storied career following the conclusion of the 2023 American season.

As confirmed in an official club announcement, the number 11 will be honoured with a special pre-match ceremony at the home ground of Children’s Mercy Park before their game against Austin FC, along with a fireworks show immediately following the game.

Widely considered not just a footballing veteran but a legend of the league, he goes down as the player with the second-most appearances in Sporting KC history, winning three US Open Cup titles and helping carry them to 10 Audi MLS Cup Playoff appearances.

His time in Greater Manchester, however, was relatively fleeting; the midfielder went on to become somewhat of a utility player throughout his career after joining the Latics halfway through the season but was quickly thrown into the first team through necessity.

Following injuries to Maynor Figueroa and Jean Beausejour, Espinoza was deployed as a left wing-back under Roberto Martínez in that FA Cup final over a decade ago which proved to be a big shock and remains Wigan‘s only major trophy. He played for 42 games before leaving in December 2014.

Having racked up a total of 455 appearances all told – not including his caps for Honduras (52), who represented at two World Cups and even at the Olympics – scoring 17 goals and notching 49 assists, his playing career spans two decades and has already begun the transition into coaching.

Read more:

Paying tribute to his long-standing teammate and mate nicknamed ‘Lucky Lefty’, fellow Kansas City legend Graham Zusi was one of countless who paid tribute to Espinoza on social media, writing: “What a human. Ultimate teammate, leader, competitor and friend. Congrats, hermano!”

Roger Espinoza’s retirement also means that there are now just four surviving members of that 2013 FA Cup-winning side: James McCarthy, Callum McManaman, Jordi Gómez and goalkeeper Joel Robles.

Meanwhile, then-manager Martínez is in charge of the Portuguese national team competing at Euro 2024 as we speak, and ex-Wigan talisman Shaun Maloney is still at the club only now as the head coach himself, and has been in post since January 2023.

Any excuse for the ‘Tics to watch it back, eh?

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Andy Witchger (via Flickr)/Wigan Athletic (via X)

Sport

The Chester Zoo 10k returns for a crucial fundraising cause

Danny Jones Danny Jones 2024 Chester Zoo 10k run

Runners, listen up because the much-loved Chester Zoo 10k is back for 2024 and this year’s run aligns with an important national day in the world of animal conservation.

Just the second time the charity event has taken place, Chester Zoo‘s ‘Run For Nature’ proved a success in its inaugural year and is now set to welcome 2,500 racers to the world-renowned and award-winning wildlife park for one of the coolest routes to jog around you could ever ask for.

In case you were in any doubt, yes, those taking part will stomp through the 128-acre zoo, racing
past Asian elephants, the rare Rothschild’s giraffes, camels, giant otters and more – all before continuing
out into the wider Cheshire countryside and circling back to the finish line at the zoo.

Say no more, sign us up.

Most importantly, this year’s Chester Zoo 10k lands on World Rhino Day, a global moment of observance and recognition of the majestic creatures which are still sadly threatened with potential extinction.

People from all over the globe gather together every try to raise awareness and money for this important cause on 22 September every year, and now both you and the zoo can do your bit lacing up your running shoes and simply going for a jog.

There were once more than 500,000 rhinos roaming across Africa, Asia and parts of Europe; now there are just 25,000 on the entire planet, including those kept in conservation facilities like Chester’s, but the hope is that with the money generated through initiatives like this, the population can rise once again.

Runners of all abilities are being invited to take part in the main 10K and there’s even a special one-mile ‘Zoom’ fun run for kids aged 4-15, so pretty much everyone can get involved.

All participants will receive a sustainable medal on completion of the run, as well as free entry to the zoo on the day. Top fundraisers will also have the opportunity to win a variety of prizes, such as annual zoo memberships, animal adoptions and experiences, as well as bundles of other vouchers.

chester zoo charity 10k
rhinos chester zoo
Credit: Chester Zoo

Read more:

All proceeds from the 2024 Run For Nature will go towards the zoo’s efforts to protect rhinos from extinction, which include developing innovative scientific techniques – which they have been pioneering for 15+ years – such as using hormone monitoring to provide crucial insights into the health of rhinos.

For instance, just a few months ago, this technology helped 21 critically endangered black rhinos (with a baby female being born at Chester Zoo back in November 2023) be returned to an area in northern Kenya where they had previously been extinct for 50 years.

Lorraine Jubb, Fundraising Lead at Chester Zoo, said: “We’re really excited to be bringing back our 10k Run For Nature event… it’s a relatively flat route and an excellent opportunity to break your PB!…

“All you have to do is sign up online and we’ll send you a registration pack in the post, which includes all of the fundraising details and your numbered bib, so you can just turn up on the day and start warming up. It’s going to be a fun-filled day that the whole family can enjoy and make a real difference for wildlife.”

So, if you want to get involved and make a contribution to animal conservation this World Rhino Day, you can sign up for Chester Zoo’s 10k Run For Nature on Sunday, 22 September HERE and we’ll see you at the finish line.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Chester Zoo (supplied)

More Sport

Phil Foden flying home from Euros temporarily for family reasons

Kids & Family

Phil Foden flying home from Euro 2024 for ‘birth of third child’

2024 Community Shield date and kick off time

News

FA confirm date and kick-off time for 2024 Manchester derby Community Shield

Mary Earps is leaving Man United on a free

Sport

Mary Earps is set to leave Manchester United and join PSG on a free transfer this summer

Audio

Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute

Eats

We go meatballs deep with Mira's traditional Neapolitan sandwiches