Karen Bardsley

Linköpings FC, 2011–12 In August 2011 Bardsley joined Swedish club Linköpings FC. With Linköpings, Bardsley made three Damallsvenskan appearances in 2011, but none in 2012 as Sofia Lundgren remained the first choice goalkeeper. During the 2011 season, the team finished in sixth place with a record. During the 2012 season, it finished in third place with a record.

Lincoln, 2013 Bardsley announced a transfer to Lincoln Ladies of the FA WSL in November 2012 ahead of the 2013 FA WSL season. She was the starting goalkeeper in all 14 matches. The team finished in sixth place with a record.

Manchester City, 2013–2022 Bardsley moved at the end of the 2013 season to Manchester City on a two-year deal. Her two-year City stint started successfully, playing a pivotal role in the club winning the 2014 Continental Cup. In March 2015, Bardsley was given a three-match ban for violent conduct in a 0–0 draw with Birmingham City after a fight with Birmingham City forward Freda Ayisi. Ayisi was expelled from the match immediately by the referee's red card. She later stated, "Passions ran high against Birmingham. Viewing the footage again, I regret the incident with Freda Ayisi. Whilst I was provoked, it was out of character for me to react in that way. I've contacted Birmingham to apologise for my involvement."

During the 2017–18 and 2018–19 seasons, despite being first choice in the England national side, Bardsley lost her starting position for Manchester City to English teenager Ellie Roebuck. At the start of the following season, it was announced that Bardsley would miss the 2019 Women's International Champions Cup due to a hamstring injury.

She made her 100th appearance in a Continental Cup match against Liverpool in November 2020. Bardsley announced her retirement on 2 May 2022 after suffering a long-term injury that forced her to withdraw from Great Britain's squad during the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The 37 year old earned 82 caps for England, while she won 8 major trophies with Manchester City.

International career Bardsley defends against Abby Wambach during a match against the United States, February 2015. Despite being born in the United States, as a dual citizen, Bardsley decided to represent England due to family connections in Stockport. She appeared for the England U-19s in the 2003 UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship. She made her senior debut in the Algarve Cup in March 2005, where England beat Northern Ireland 4–0. In August 2009, she was named to coach Hope Powell's squad for UEFA Women's Euro 2009.

2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, Germany By the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany, Bardsley had taken over the national team's first choice goalkeeping position from Rachel Brown. After England's 1–1 opening group match draw with Mexico, coach Powell reported that Bardsley was "devastated" following the concession of a long-range equaliser to Mónica Ocampo. In England's quarter final exit to France, Bardsley saved the first penalty in the shootout, but misses from Claire Rafferty and Faye White sent England home.

2012 Summer Olympics, Great Britain In June 2012 Bardsley was named in the 18–player Great Britain squad for the 2012 London Olympics. She played in all four games as Great Britain were beaten 2–0 by Canada in the last eight.

UEFA Women's Euro 2013 At UEFA Women's Euro 2013 England lost 3–2 to Spain in their opening game, when Spain scored a 94th-minute goal, and were knocked out in the first round. Hope Powell was sacked in the wake of that failure but new coach Mark Sampson continued to select Bardsley.

2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, Canada

In May 2015, Bardsley was named to England's final squad for the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, hosted in Canada. Bardsley had previously played as goalkeeper in all five games and was part of the history-making team which beat Norway in the round of 16 to become the first senior England women's team to win a world cup knockout match. She was substituted in the 51st minute of the quarter-final match against Canada, after suffering an inflammation of her right eye; she was immediately taken off pitch with her eye visibly swollen and was substituted with Siobhan Chamberlain. The reasoning for the swelling was unknown, but parts of the artificial turf were suspected.

UEFA Women's Euro 2017 Bardsley played in England's first two Group games (against Scotland and Spain) but was rested in the final Group game against Portugal. She suffered a fractured fibula in England's quarter-final against France and did not take any further part in the tournament.

2019 FIFA Women's World Cup, France Bardsley with her England teammates at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup. On 8 May 2019, she was named in the squad for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup. She played in two of the matches in the group stage, against Scotland and Japan. She played in the round of 16 against Cameroon and in the quarter-final against Norway.

Legacy Bardsley was given number 161 when the FA announced their legacy numbers scheme to honour the 50th anniversary of England's inaugural international.

Coaching career Bardsley began coaching as a volunteer coach at her alma mater, California State University, Fullerton, before being employed as an assistant coach with the University of San Diego. She graduated with a Master's degree in Sports Directorship at the Manchester Metropolitan University in July 2019.

In December 2023, she was appointed manager of the Manchester City's Girls’ Academy. Then, in 2026 she would join Denver Summit FC to be a member of Nick Cushing's coaching staff, working as the team's goalkeeping coach.

Honours

Manchester City Women's League Cup: 2014, 2016, 2018–19, 2021–22 Women's Super League: 2016 Women's FA Cup: 2016–17, 2018–19, 2019–20

England UEFA Women's Championship runner-up: 2009 Cyprus Cup: 2013, 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup third place: 2015 SheBelieves Cup: 2019