Female Footballer of the Year Contender Russo

Age: 26 Position: Forward Clubs: Arsenal and England

Alessia Russo created a legacy with her club as they emerged as the pioneering English team to claim victory in the prestigious European competition since the North London side did in 2008, and also played a key role in leading England to the successful retention of their continental crown.

She scored in the European Championship final and found her groove for her team, making significant contributions throughout the season as an attacker and with her defensive efforts.

The forward was honored as the Football Writers' Association's women's footballer of the year for the previous campaign.

Russo finished as the WSL's co-leading goalscorer, sharing the top scorer award with her rival striker.

She scored twelve league goals for the club and provided assists for a couple more.

Her name was put forward for the prestigious individual award and named in the PFA and the European season's best XIs.

Her thoughts on personal development over the past year:

"I play my best football when I'm enjoying myself and I know my efforts in practice and I'm getting my work done, so those are aspects that are within my power.

"There's so many different aspects to a striker's role, it requires precision and there are so many fine margins. I'm always still learning. We have great coaches here at the club. I have great players to gain knowledge from as well. Then when the important matches arrive, the greater your experience, the more comfortable you become."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

"The entire competition was a total emotional ride. It was highs and lows. It was emotionally really hard. We were physically drained.

"I recall after the last-eight game, many players were really, really battered and bruised. The pressure was immense. But you've got to turn it around quickly. The schedule is relentless.

"I think the way that we won throughout that whole tournament was just grit and resilience. And we were aware that we had the team, we knew that we had the necessary qualities.

"You're playing against the best teams in the world, the best players in the world and sometimes you have to grind out results."

On the Champions League final:

"The overriding feeling that stands out from that whole day was just being very composed, like we knew we'd done the work, we knew that we had the ability, and we knew that we believed in the game plan and what we wanted to do.

"Obviously playing against a side such as Barça, you've got to be comfortable not possessing the ball because their skill is exceptional. When they do have the ball, they don't give it away frequently.

"We as athletes in the high press and defensively, we were really focused on our job at hand. It was a lot of running and plenty of defending. But in the end that led to success. I think that you have to be content securing victories in that manner as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I was fortunate of seeing her play a couple of occasions with my father. Seeing her for England, too, she was just incredible. I wish that her career lasted more and still be playing now, but she ranks among the greats.

"I believe those who teamed up with her would agree and I didn't have the chance of doing that. But watching her was someone that I greatly admired."

Alessia Russo notched 12 goals in 21 games in the Women's Super League the previous campaign to share the Golden Boot.

She was not just one of the most clinical players in the competition but Russo was also a persistent danger in the box throughout the campaign, taking more shots (seventy-three) and recording a superior xG (nine point seven) than any other player.

Her capability to contribute to the team beyond scoring distinguishes her.

Team-mate a teammate often delivered progressive passes into her, so effective ball retention was necessary.

Russo's ability to retreat into midfield, creating space from her nearby marker through sharp, darting movements stood out.

If a marker got too close, she used her body well to win free-kicks, assisting the side gain settled possession in the enemy territory. In the European tournament last season, no player was fouled more than the forward (15).

When the ball does stick, Russo's touches are highly effective. Her regular awareness of her surroundings means she stays conscious of where rivals are.

Russo takes minimal touches on the ball, moving it clear from defenders marking closely, before finding close colleagues positioned facing towards the goal.

By keeping possession in difficult scenarios, she is often capable to act as an outlet for her side in trouble.

She is able convert tough balls into extended spells of stable possession and such phases in the opponent's final third result in scores, several of these she ends up scoring herself.