SPOTY winner Earps proud to make goalkeeping cool

Sports Personality of the Year winner Mary Earps is proud to be making the role of a goalkeeper look cool.

The Manchester United and England star has grown into a household name in recent years thanks to her heroic performances between the sticks, with the 30-year-old famously saving a penalty in this year's World Cup final against Spain.

Earps also finished fifth in the Ballon d'Or Feminin voting and is on a mission to change the public's view towards keepers.

Speaking on the red carpet at the awards event at BBC HQ in Salford, she told LiveScore: "That's part of my values — my mission is to make goalkeeping cool!

"We see a lot of strikers, attackers in general, on the billboards and getting the marketing deals.

"I want people to know that goalkeeping is cool.

"It's a valued position but it gets a lot of unfair criticism."

Everyone wants to be Mary

Fellow Lioness Esme Morgan is well aware of Earps' impact on the sport and thinks many aspiring footballers will look to follow in her footsteps.

The Manchester City defender said: "Mary's so deserving [of the award]. What she's done for goalkeeping is just incredible.

"There's going to be so many girls and boys growing up wanting to be a goalkeeper because Mary has made it cool.

"When I've been on the bench for a couple of recent England games, I can hear the whole crowd just chanting her name.

"Everyone wants to be like Mary. They want to save penalties, catch crosses and do what used to be seen as the ugly task."

Golden Glove

Earps' dazzling displays at the World Cup Down Under, where she conceded only four goals, earned her the Golden Glove award while also enhancing her global status — and the stopper would love to relive the experience.

She said: "I loved it so much. Playing for your country at a World Cup. That's a dream, right?

"So to be able to live that dream. I wanted to make the most of every single minute.

"I wish I could go back to it, to be honest."

Earps also believes the friendships in the Lionesses camp has played a role in the team's meteoric rise, which included lifting the European Championship trophy at Wembley in 2022.

She added: "I mean, you can have success without all being such close friends, but it makes it more enjoyable when you have that aspect.

"I love having that close connection and togetherness.

"And I get to play with some incredible players as well!"

Penalty heroics

Earps' iconic penalty save from Jenni Hermoso in the World Cup final was ultimately for a losing cause as Spain triumphed 1-0 in Sydney — although the emotion generated from the moment is something the goalie will never forget.

She said: "It's overwhelming [saving a penalty in a World Cup final].

"I think you can tell by my reaction, I was just so full of passion. In that moment, it's just pure emotion — even though football is a business.

"I was on top of the world and I really thought we were going to go on and win the game.

"Obviously, it's an unbelievable feeling — but I would have traded anything to win that gold medal."