Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
TOKYO (AP) — Former women's world player of the year Homare Sawa announced her retirement from football on Wednesday.
The 37-year-old Sawa is the former captain of Japan, and the 2011 Women's World Cup top-scorer and MVP.
She scored an extra-time equalizer when Japan beat the United States on penalties to win that Women's World Cup final.
For Japan, she has a record 205 caps and 83 goals.
Sawa played in the U.S. Women's Premier Soccer League from 1999-2010, and returned to Japan's domestic league in 2011.
She played in her sixth Women's World Cup this year in Canada, and helped Japan win a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
