Former Everton Defender Rikke Sevecke Opens Up About Career-Ending Heart Condition, Women's Health, and Anfield Experience.

Soccer General

Former Everton Defender Rikke Sevecke Opens Up About Career-Ending Heart Condition, Women's Health, and Anfield Experience.

Rikke Sevecke's life took a sudden turn when she received a life-changing phone call while alone in her new apartment in Oregon.

Rikke Sevecke, the former Everton defender, recently moved from Merseyside to the west coast of the United States to join the National Women's Super League (NWSL) team Portland Thorns. 

However, her time with the Thorns was cut short as doctors discovered a heart condition during her medical examination, leading to her immediate retirement from football.

The irony of the situation isn't lost on Sevecke, who at 27 years old, was pursuing her lifelong dream of playing in the US. The medical tests revealed an arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC), leaving Sevecke with mixed emotions.

"I have a lot of mixed feelings," Sevecke shared with BBC's World Service Sportshour programme. "I'm glad they found it because now I know. But I'm also sad that I can't continue doing what I love."