#womens-football

#womens-football

In our discussions, she impressed us and the committees with her expertise, as well as her combination of specialist knowledge, leadership strength and strategic thinking, said Oliver Mintzlaff, chair of RB Leipzig's supervisory board, in a club statement.

Emile Heskey was about 14 years old when he was chased from Leicester City's old Filbert Street stadium all the way into town by a man shouting racist abuse. He was a Leicester fan who had no idea he was abusing a player who would go on to help his club win promotion to the Premier League and two League Cups before a move to Liverpool for what, at the time, was the club's record transfer fee.

A lot of hard work, but we got there, it's fantastic news for us to be celebrating. "When we launched the strategy back in 2021... we had less than 10,000 players. "We really had to look strategically at how we wanted to achieve this, what was such an ambitious target at the time, and really focusing on what resource our clubs, our leagues needed, and how we can create national programmes that inspire girls and women of all ages from all different backgrounds to take up football.

When the Olympique Lyonnais women's team officially became OL Lyonnes on 19 May, they came with a new mantra: New story, same legend. The eight-time European champions, now owned by Michele Kang and part of Kynisca a multi-club ownership group dedicated to women's sports that also already includes the Washington Spirit are a new project with the aim of developing as a women's club with our own model.

"She celebrated as if she had won the Champions League," said England boss Sarina Wiegman with a smile. And for Lucia Kendall, it wasn't far off. Wiegman was reflecting on the moment the Aston Villa midfielder sprinted off into the corner after scoring her first Lionesses goal - six minutes into their 2-0 win over Ghana at St Mary's Stadium. "They are still doing some treatment on the grass!" she added with a joke, referring to Kendall's immaculate knee slide.

As you have probably noticed we don't have the wonderful Laura Woods because she's just been taken ill but she's in very good hands so I'm stepping in at late notice,

Littlejohn was sent off in Crystal Palace's League Cup win over Leicester City on Sunday after an altercation with Hannah Cain. The 35-year-old appeared to grab Cain by the neck and the players fell to the ground in a second-half flashpoint. The Football Association has said it's standard three-match ban for violent conduct was "clearly insufficient" and it can seek an extended punishment if a case is "truly exceptional".

The AFC Women's Asian Cup heads to Australia next year, as Australia get set to host their second major women's football competition in three years after the 2023 World Cup. From March 1-21 2026, 12 nations will take part in the competition, with a total of 27 matches taking place across Perth, Sydney and the Gold Coast. With nine titles under their belt, reigning champions China are the most successful team in the competition.

"Until a few years ago, we didn't even need somebody to do that job,"

The Australia international right-back opened the scoring against Chelsea's biggest European foe, but squandered what should have been the match-winner at Stamford Bridge. Though she missed the golden opportunity to seal victory, her contribution to the club since joining in July has elevated the side to new heights, something rather incredible given the world-class team she stepped into.

The Portuguese side started and finished strongly, with City goalkeeper Lee Gibson busy in the opening minutes. Having been under the cosh for 25 minutes, the SWPL leaders began to find some rhythm and stunned their hosts by taking the lead four minutes before the break. A deep free-kick from Lisa Evans was helped on by Kimberley Smit, with Kozlova ghosting in to finish from close range.

The 41-year-old made 313 appearances for Arsenal between 2002 and 2018, in addition to spells at Birmingham City and in the United States at the Boston Breakers. Scott also represented England 140 times and played five times for Team GB at the 2012 London Olympics. Following her retirement from football, Scott began a full-time media career, having regularly appeared as a pundit during her playing career. Scott has been the presenter of Football Focus since 2021.

Playing against Ascot United in November 2024, 30-year-old Cheatley controlled a bobbling pass into the box, flicked the ball up and acrobatically finished with her back to goal. The goal puts Cheatley, who plays for the Bees in the fifth tier of the English women's pyramid, in exulted company alongside a great in Marta and Lizbeth Ovalle, the most expensive player in the history of the women's game.

Switzerland were the toast of the continent this summer as hosts of the Women's European Championship. The national team reached the quarter-finals for the first time and a total of 623,088 were in attendance at the 31 matches, a tournament record. The hope within Switzerland was for a boost at club level similar to what England experienced three years previously. Those heights have not been reached, but there has been a definite bump.

"To be honest, I don't know. Maybe this one - it's from the Euros," she says, stroking her skin. "It says HOME, and the H is made up of two Roman I's, II - like the number two. It stands for my second Euros title." A symbol of home, of the connection between origin and success. "It reminds me of where I come from and what's possible if you never stop believing."

GK Barry, a podcast host, TikTok influencer and the youngest panellist on ITV's Loose Women, is a bona fide UK queer icon these days, and she's also one half of a couple that includes talented footballer Ella Rutherford. Last year, she joined other famous faces in the Australian jungle for I'm A Celebrity, which means she had to leave her girlfriend Ella behind. Ella Rutherford is a 25-year-old footballer who plays for Ipswich Town.

Union Berlin are no ordinary promoted side. The team, who have worked their way up from the Regionalliga to the Bundesliga in just two short years, appear too determined, too united and too well organised. What takes years elsewhere is the result of a clear plan in the Köpenick region of Berlin and a club that has found its own pace.

"Rosi's transition into the professional game is monumental for her, but what we have achieved together is truly remarkable. "Providing her with the opportunity to enter the men's game was never in question and she has been outstanding in her time here. "As a coach and as a person, she is exceptional."

"We are thrilled to welcome the Kansas City Current and San Diego Wave FC to our exhilarating 7v7 tournament, where they will compete against top clubs from across the Americas," Sarah Cummins, CEO of W7F, said in a news release. "This high-stakes competition showcases the talent and ambition fueling the women's game today. "We know the fans will come out and cheer on these world-class teams as they compete for the title and a significant prize, reflecting our ongoing commitment to creating opportunities that reward excellence and elevate women's football on the global stage."

However, the Campus is increasingly unable to fit the growing demands of the games played there. The Frauen in particular have been exponentially growing in popularity, with their last game at the Allianz Arena selling over 50,000 tickets. What's more, the campus is not exactly fan friendly when it comes to public transport, with only bus service to and fro.

The BBC Women's Footballer of the Year award launched in 2015. It is decided by a global public vote after a panel of experts - including coaches, players, administrators and journalists - selects a five-player shortlist. Here are the previous winners: 2015: Asisat Oshoala Nigeria and Liverpool forward Asisat Oshoala was the very first BBC Women's Footballer of the Year. Then 20, Oshoala was player of the tournament at the Under-20s World Cup in Canada and helped Nigeria's senior team win the African Women's Championship. Also shortlisted were Veronica Boquete, Nadine Kessler, Kim Little and Marta.

I grew up in a war zone, full of insecurity and injustice. I was at risk of being attacked, singled out, or arrested. Fear came from everywhere: from my parents, from society, from the world, she recalls now. What did we do to deserve this? she constantly asked herself. Honey Thaljieh (Bethlehem, 41) pretended to be a normal girl in a context that wasn't, and she found refuge in the ball. It was a tool to escape social pressure and trauma, to free myself.

Good to see Taylor Hinds on from the start; she's less, er, combative than Katie McCabe but seems to have more zip about her at the moment. Kyra Cooney-Cross in midfield will please a lot of fans who want a bit more oomph in that department. Delighted to see Lotte Wubben-Moy back in, of course; but it only underscores the fact that Leah Williamson is still very much out and very much missed.

With its new 18-team format, the UEFA Women's Champions League is into the second gameweek and there are some exciting matchups to be found. In the early games, Valarenga host Wolfsburg, while OL Lyonnes will take on St Polten. Then Chelsea will hope to improve on their slow start against Paris FC, Barcelona take on Roma, and two of the surprise packages from the first week, OH Leuven and Twente, face each other.

The Rome native joined the Turin club aged just 17, moving to an unknown city up north and to a team that had just been created. It was new territory for Caruso, whose childhood idol was Rome's own Francesco Totti. She would stay with Juventus for seven and a half years, becoming part of a project that has helped shape women's football in Italy. She became captain, a senior international and the club's record appearance holder with over 200 games.

Campbell has been without a club since leaving London City Lionesses at the end of last season following their promotion to the WSL. The 32-year-old won 57 caps for Republic of Ireland after making her senior debut in August 2011 against Switzerland. Campbell, who could play left back or centre back, was a member of the Irish squad that qualified for the 2023 Women's World Cup, but she missed the tournament through injury.