Who Is Karen Carney Partner? Her Relationship Status Update 2024

Daniel Figaro
Feb 16, 2024
Feb 21, 2024

Who is Karen Carney partner? A question that many fans of the former footballer and current sports journalist have been asking for a long time. Karen Carney, who retired from playing in 2019, has been a prominent figure in the world of women's football, both on and off the pitch. She has won numerous trophies and accolades, including being inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2021. She has also been a regular broadcaster for live football on various platforms, such as Sky Sports, ITV and Amazon Prime. But what about her personal life? Is she married or dating anyone? Does she identify as a lesbian? Here is what we know so far.

Key Takeaways:

Karen Carney's relationship status remains undisclosed, reflecting her preference for privacy regarding personal matters, with no confirmed partnerships or public discussions on her sexual orientation.
Speculations about Carney's personal life, including rumored connections with fellow athletes and journalists, lack substantiation, underscoring her successful effort to keep her private life away from public scrutiny.
Carney's illustrious football career is marked by significant achievements and contributions to the sport, including numerous titles and accolades, transitioning seamlessly into a respected sports broadcaster and journalist post-retirement.

Who Is Karen Carney Partner?

The short answer is: the identity of who is Karen Carney partner remains unknown. Karen Carney has been very private about her personal affairs and has not revealed any information about her relationship status or dating history. Based on the available sources, there is no evidence that she is currently married to anyone or has a partner.

She has also not confirmed or denied any rumors about her sexual orientation, which have been circulating among fans and the media for years. Some have speculated that she might be a lesbian, based on her appearance, her involvement in women's football, and her lack of public relationships with men. However, these are just assumptions. Karen Carney has not come out to the public with her sexual orientation.

There are not many rumors about Karen Carney’s relationships, as she has kept her personal life very private. However, some sources have speculated that she might have dated or been involved with some of her fellow footballers or journalists, such as:

Alex Scott: Alex Scott, a former Arsenal and England teammate, who is also a sports journalist and pundit1 Some fans have shipped them as a couple, based on their friendship and chemistry on and off the field. However, there is no confirmation or evidence of their romantic involvement, and they have never addressed the rumors.
Kelly Smith: Kelly Smith, another former Arsenal and England teammate, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest female players of all time. Smith came out as gay in 2014 and revealed that she had a girlfriend at the time. Some people have suggested that Carney and Smith might have had a relationship in the past, but again, there is no proof or acknowledgment of this.
Jacqui Oatley: Jacqui Oatley, a sports broadcaster and journalist, who has worked with Carney on several occasions. Oatley is married to a man and has two children, but some fans have joked that she and Carney have a crush on each other, based on their banter and compliments on social media. However, this is most likely just a friendly and professional interaction, and not a serious indication of their relationship status.

Karen Carney's Career And Achievements

Karen Carney, a name that resonates in the football world, has an impressive professional life, while her personal life remains shrouded in mystery. At the tender age of 11, she embarked on her football journey with Birmingham City Ladies, making her first-team debut just three years later. Her talent didn't go unnoticed as she was crowned FA Young Player of the Year in both 2005 and 2006.

In 2006, she switched gears and joined Arsenal Ladies, where she had a triumphant 2006/07 season, bagging four major honours: the FA Women's Premier League, FA Women's Cup, FA Women's Premier League Cup, and the UEFA Women's Cup.

Her career took her across the pond to the American Women's Professional Soccer (WPS), where she played for Chicago Red Stars from 2009 to 2010. However, she returned to her roots at Birmingham City from 2011 to 2015.

Carney's career reached its zenith at Chelsea. She not only earned the title of Player of the Year in 2016 but also led her team to victory in the FA Women's Cup in the 2017/18 season. After a successful stint of 178 club games and 53 goals, she hung up her boots in July 2019.

Internationally, Carney had a stellar run. She donned the England jersey in four FIFA Women's World Cups (2007, 2011, 2015, and 2019) and four UEFA Women's Championships (2005, 2009, 2013, and 2017). She also represented Great Britain in the 2012 Summer Olympics. With 144 appearances and 32 goals for England, she stands as the third most capped England player of all time. Her efforts were rewarded with bronze medals at the 2015 World Cup and the 2017 Euros, and she was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her services to football in 2017.

Post-retirement, Carney transitioned into sports journalism and broadcasting, covering both women's and men's football for various media outlets. Her insightful analysis, eloquent commentary, and passionate advocacy for women's football have earned her much acclaim. She has also been a sports columnist for BBC Sport, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Television, and The Guardian. Her contributions to the sport were recognized when she was inducted into Birmingham City's Hall of Fame in 2015, and the English Football Hall of Fame in 2021.