NI keeper Burns on plans for life after football

Northern Ireland goalkeeper Jackie Burns, who has just signed for Women's Super League 2 club Burnley, says she is already preparing for life after football despite still being her country's first-choice keeper. The 29-year-old, who has 15 years of professional experience across leagues in Iceland, Canada and Sweden, says she wants to move into a "player-care" role once she retires, helping other players settle into new clubs and countries. This matters because it highlights the often-overlooked off-pitch support structures that affect player welfare and career transitions in women's football.

Burns, who has 64 caps for Northern Ireland, left Bristol City to join newly-promoted Burnley this summer, partly because of the club's willingness to support her post-playing ambitions. She explained that practical challenges such as arranging housing or a car in an unfamiliar country can add unseen stress for players moving abroad, and that clubs offering this kind of support help players feel valued and settle in more easily.