Everton and Wales forward Hannah Cain has revealed she considered retiring from football several times as she battled two ACL injuries and a series of major setbacks that threatened to derail her career.
The 26-year-old has endured three major surgeries during her time at Leicester City, including two anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries and a foot injury, with the lengthy rehabilitation periods taking a significant mental toll.
But Cain has continued to fight back and is now determined to make the most of her career after returning to Everton, where she first signed a professional contract almost a decade ago.
The forward’s resilience was rewarded on the international stage when she scored a crucial penalty to help Wales qualify for their first major women’s tournament, Euro 2025. She also made history at the tournament in Switzerland, scoring against England alongside Wales captain Jess Fishlock as the team reached a landmark moment for the women’s game in the country.
Reflecting on the injuries that tested her commitment to football, Cain admitted there were times when she questioned whether she wanted to continue playing.
“I’ve wanted to retire quite a few times in those moments,” she said to the official Women’s Super League website.
“But I think it’s best to always wait until you’re out of the dark as such, to then see if you want to carry on or not. And every time I’ve been out of that place I’ve enjoyed football again.”
Hannah Cain opens up on retirement thoughts after three major surgeries
Cain’s injury struggles were particularly difficult because of the length of time required to recover from each setback.
The forward explained that her two ACL injuries, alongside a foot injury shortly after joining Leicester, meant she spent significant periods away from the pitch and faced the challenge of rebuilding both her fitness and confidence.
“I went through a couple of injuries. I had two ACLs. I had a foot injury when I first joined. I’ve had three major surgeries in the space of my time at Leicester and that was quite difficult,” she said.
“They’re all long-term injuries. But I’m proud of myself for coming back every time and still being able to perform at this level and at international level too. So it’s a big achievement for me.”
Cain admitted the mental challenge of rehabilitation became particularly difficult after suffering a second ACL injury.
She explained that the repetitive nature of recovery could leave her questioning whether she could face the process again, especially when she was still young and trying to establish herself in professional football.
“After the first one, it was mentally tough to go through such a long injury. I was still quite young,” she said.
“And then there are days where you’re like, ‘Oh, I just cannot do this anymore’. I don’t know what the word is, but life is just the same every single minute of every single day. And it does get really tough.
“And then to be injured a second time, you just think, ‘No, I’m done’.”
Despite those doubts, Cain believes the mentality required to compete at the highest level helped her persevere.
She also learned to appreciate the structure that professional football provides, from daily training schedules to the demands of preparing for matches.
“I don’t actually know what I would do without having an everyday schedule,” she added. “In the summer, no one’s telling me where to be, what to do, what to eat, and I miss that. I miss the schedule.”
Cain is hopeful the worst of her injury problems are behind her and that she can now enjoy a sustained period of football without another major setback.
“Hopefully I’m done now and that’s me done with the injuries and that I can get a good few years now out of my career where I’m really thriving,” she said.
Everton return marks a new chapter after six years at Leicester
Cain’s return to Everton this summer represented an important moment in her career, bringing her back to a club where she first experienced professional football.
The forward initially signed her first professional contract with Everton around eight or nine years ago, having previously played in the Championship. She recalled how significant the transition was at such a young age, with the demands of full-time professional football requiring a major adjustment.
“I’d gone from just playing and training a couple of times a week and playing on the weekend to ‘This is your life every single minute of the day’,” she said.
“The gap at a young age was quite big. I don’t think I really got a great experience in those first two years, but I learned a lot.”
Cain subsequently moved to Leicester, where she spent six years developing as a player and gaining valuable experience despite the injuries that interrupted her progress.
She believes those experiences have helped her return to Everton as a more mature footballer and person.
“I learned so much, had a couple of injuries. But then, obviously now coming back here, I feel like I’m a much more grown human,” she said.
“I’ve learned so much on and off the pitch. I feel like I’m a proper adult now, which I am. But yeah, it’s amazing to come back here and the facilities are as good as I remember.”
The move offers Cain an opportunity to build on the progress she has made throughout her career, with the forward hoping to put her injury troubles behind her and establish herself further at club and international level.
Wales Euro 2025 hero reflects on historic penalty and England goal
One of the proudest moments of Cain’s career came after she returned from her second ACL injury and helped Wales secure qualification for Euro 2025.
The forward scored a penalty during the decisive qualifying campaign, playing a key role in Wales becoming the first women’s team from the country to reach a major international tournament.
For Cain, the goal carried particular significance after the physical and mental challenges she had faced during her recovery.
“When I came back from my second ACL, we had an international break and I scored a penalty that helped us qualify for the Euros. That was an amazing moment for me,” she said.
“I’d been through so much on the pitch, off the pitch, everything. I’d come back from my second major injury. And some people always doubt you, whether you can be back to that level.”
She added: “To score in that moment and be such a massive part of Welsh history is something that can never be taken away and something that I’ll forever be proud of.”
Wales’ first appearance at a major women’s tournament brought further memorable moments, including Cain’s goal against England. She and Fishlock became the first Wales Women players to score at the European Championship.
Although Wales faced a difficult group containing France, the Netherlands and England, Cain believes the experience was an important step forward for the team.
The tournament provided valuable lessons for a side making its first appearance on such a stage, with the players able to measure themselves against some of the strongest teams in international football.
Cain said the experience should be viewed as an opportunity for growth rather than a missed chance.
“It was our first major tournament. We had a lot of learnings to do and things like that,” she said.
“You always make mistakes and you grow and you learn what you should do better, what you did do well – that’s important to focus on as well, not always what should have been better.”
She added that Wales needed to recognise the achievement of reaching the tournament and the progress made once they arrived.
“You have to acknowledge the growth it took to get there and then how well you’ve done there. And we were in a really tough group.”
Wales turn attention to World Cup qualification
With the experience of Euro 2025 behind them, Cain and Wales are now looking towards their next major challenge: qualifying for the Women’s World Cup.
The forward believes the lessons learned from facing Europe’s elite will help Wales as they look to build on their historic tournament appearance.
Norway are among the challenges on the horizon, with Wales set to face them in December as attention turns towards the next stage of their international journey.
For Cain, the prospect of another major qualification campaign provides fresh motivation after the difficult years she has spent battling injuries.
The forward knows better than most how quickly circumstances can change in football, having gone from questioning whether she could continue playing to becoming part of a historic moment for Wales.
Now back at Everton and with a major tournament behind her, Cain will be hoping to enjoy the sustained run of football she has long wanted.
Her journey has already demonstrated the resilience required to return from serious injuries, and she is determined to use that experience as Wales look to take another step forward on the international stage.
“The next one’s obviously going to be the World Cup,” she said. “I’m looking forward to that too.”
