Revealed: How Steph Houghton scouted future Lionesses star and convinced Man City to sign 'dominant' young talent

Houghton will hang up her boots at the end of the current season, bringing an incredible career to a close that has seen her win 16 major honours and captain the Lionesses at the very highest level. Upon the announcement of her retirement, Chelsea boss Emma Hayes said that the iconic defender would be an excellent coach. But perhaps there is another path Houghton would be well-suited to.

The 35-year-old has spent the last 10 years of her career with Man City and her influence there has not just been in winning titles and being an excellent captain. It appears her impact could well go on well after she leaves, with it revealed that she actually spotted one of City's brightest young players and recommended that then-manager Nick Cushing signed her.

Speaking to the Athletic, Cushing explained: “It was actually Steph who scouted Jess Park. She went to a school tournament with her agent from the PFA. Steph was giving out the trophy for the winners of the tournament. When she came back, she actually said to me, ‘There’s a player there that we need to sign. There is a player who is good enough to play in our first team now. She’d absolutely dominated the tournament. She was the best player by a mile’. I wouldn’t have known who Jess Park was."

City invited Park to visit the club and she signed a contract with them in 2017, aged 16. Now 22 years old, she is a senior England international who is knocking on the door of Sarina Wiegman's starting XI thanks to some excellent form in the Women's Super League this season.

Park will hope to play a big role in Houghton's time at Man City ending on a high, in the form of just a second WSL title for the captain and the club. City are locked into a fierce battle for that trophy with Chelsea, sitting three points clear of the Londoners at the top of the table, though Hayes' side do have a game in hand.