After years of representing Jamaica on the international stage and playing professionally across the globe, Marlo Sweatman says she’s at peace with her decision to retire from football. At just 30 years old, the former Reggae Girl recently confirmed what many had already suspected—that she has stepped away from the game for good.
“It was a tough decision,” she admitted. “But I think every player kind of knows when it’s time. And for me, I just knew that was the time.”
The decision wasn’t made overnight. Sweatman had been dealing with lingering injuries and, over time, began to feel a stronger pull toward making an impact off the field. That realizTation grew stronger during her most recent stint with Brooklyn FC, her final club, where she struggled with the physical demands that once came so easily.
“I was a bit banged up everywhere,” she revealed. “And I realized that the way my career has gone, at this stage of my life, the impact I can have is even greater off the pitch.”
It marks the end of a diverse and well-travelled career. Born in Woodbridge, Virginia, Sweatman began her football journey in the U.S. college system, first with the Florida State Seminoles in 2013 before making her mark with the Oregon Ducks between 2014 and 2016. Her professional career began in earnest with LA Premier in 2016, where she scored seven goals in 14 appearances. From there, her path took her to Sweden with Töcksfors IF, followed by a season in the Netherlands with PEC Zwolle, where she gained valuable experience in Europe’s competitive football landscape.
Her journey continued in Hungary, where she spent three seasons split between Szent Mihály FC and Haladás Viktória, contributing both on the pitch and as a mentor for younger players. Sweatman returned to the U.S. in 2024 to sign with Brooklyn FC, but by then, she says, her mind and body were already signalling that it was time to consider life after playing.
Still, Sweatman leaves behind a proud legacy, especially when it comes to her time in the national colours. A product of Jamaica’s youth system, she represented the U20 Reggae Girlz from 2011 to 2012, scoring twice in eight appearances. She made her senior debut in 2018 and played a pivotal role in the historic campaign that saw Jamaica qualify for their first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2019.
“There are two moments that I’ll never forget,” she said, reflecting on her international career. “One was when we qualified for the World Cup by beating Panama on penalties. When we came home to Jamaica, we toured the island and seeing people waving from their windows, cheering us on—man, it hit me just how big of an impact we made.”
“The other was in France. Just walking down the street and hearing kids yell ‘Jamaica! Jamaica!’—those moments meant everything.”
Sweatman earned 20 senior caps for Jamaica, scoring three goals and serving as a steady presence in midfield. Her transition now sees her pursuing a Master’s degree in International Sports Management through the Global Institute of Sport (GIS), where she’s also been selected as an Elite Athlete Scholar. She’s currently in Jamaica working with Mount Pleasant Football Academy, contributing to media and fan engagement strategies while gaining insights into the business side of the sport.
“This next chapter is exciting,” she said. “I want to use everything I’ve learned—from playing, travelling, studying—to give back to football and help create better opportunities for those coming up.”
Sweatman hasn’t yet posted a formal retirement announcement on social media but hinted that many of her followers already got the message.
“I posted a video where I used the word ‘retirement’ and I think that gave it away,” she laughed. “But yeah, I’ll probably make an official post at some point. I think most people know by now.”
Though she’s hung up her boots, Marlo Sweatman is far from done with football. Her focus now is on shaping the game from a different angle—still with the heart of a player, but with the vision of a future leader.