Kaz Carney [interview]

Catherine Etoe interviews Karen Carney, the 24-year-old Birmingham City and England forward billed on the cover as Kaz Carney, six years after the national press dubbed her the Wayne Rooney of women’s football following Euro 2005. Now back at her hometown club with 66 England caps and a 2007 Arsenal quadruple behind her, Carney is candid about a frustrating season: fit for only the first seven games, then hampered by a hamstring problem carried back from the World Cup. She reflects on Birmingham leading the inaugural FA WSL before finishing runners-up and losing the Continental Cup final, insisting a season without silverware is not a good one. She praises general manager Heather Cowan and chairman Steve Shipway, describes the Blues’ growing crowds, and talks about her sports psychology masters and hoping to play at the 2012 Olympics.