Denmark international Rikke Sevecke, formerly of Everton and Portland Thorns, has announced her retirement from football due to a heart condition.
Sevecke, 27, explained in a social media post that medical tests have uncovered the condition which has forced her to curtail her top-level career prematurely.
The central defender was capped 54 times by the Denmark international team and participated in last year’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Sevecke made 52 appearances across three seasons at Everton in the Women’s Super League before joining NWSL Portland Thorns in September.
The defender did not play for the Thorns, though, who announced that the option of extending her contract for the 2024 season would not be exercised.
A medical test carried out last year revealed a need for more thorough examinations which has resulted in Sevecke calling time on her career.
“I’m not sure how to find the right words,” Sevecke said in a statement on Friday.
“But as of now, I will no longer be running around doing what I’ve done my whole life, playing football.
“The past months I’ve had some tests done and I recently got the results back which says that I have a heart condition. This means that I’m not allowed to continue playing professional football and I’ve…
