Women's Soccer Player of the Year Contender Russo

Age: 26 Playing Role: Forward Clubs: Arsenal and the English national team

Alessia Russo created a legacy with her club as they emerged as the first British team to win the Women's Champions League since the North London side did in 2008, and also helped guide England to the defence of their continental crown.

Russo found the net in the European Championship showpiece match and found her groove for her club, playing a crucial role throughout the season as an attacker and with her work off the ball.

Russo was honored as the Football Writers' Association's women's footballer of the year for last season.

She was the WSL's co-leading goalscorer, sharing the Golden Boot with her rival striker.

She scored twelve league goals for Arsenal and provided assists for a further two.

She was also nominated for the prestigious individual award and selected in the Professional Footballers' Association and the Uefa Champions League season's best XIs.

Her thoughts on personal development over the past year:

"My top performances come when I'm enjoying myself and I know my efforts in practice and I'm getting my work done, so that's something that I can always control.

"There's so many different aspects to a striker's role, it requires precision and there are so many fine margins. I continue to develop. We have great coaches here at the club. I have great players to learn off as well. Then when the big games come around, the greater your experience, the more comfortable you become."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

"The whole tournament was a complete rollercoaster. It was highs and lows. It tested us mentally. We were physically drained.

"I remember after the Sweden [quarter-final] game, many players were really, really battered and bruised. The pressure was immense. But recovery had to be swift. The schedule is relentless.

"I think the way that we won throughout that whole tournament was just determination and toughness. And we were aware that we had the squad, we knew that we had what it takes.

"Facing the top sides in the world, the best players in the world and sometimes you have to grind out results."

Discussing the European final:

"The overriding feeling that I can remember from that whole day was just being so calm, like we knew our preparation was complete, we knew that we had what it takes, and we knew that we trusted the game plan and what we aimed to achieve.

"Obviously playing against a team like Barcelona, you've got to be comfortable not possessing the ball because they're so talented. When they do have the ball, they retain it frequently.

"We as athletes in the press and out of possession, we were really focused on our job at hand. It was a lot of running and plenty of defending. But ultimately that's what got the job done. In my opinion you have to be content winning games like that as well."

On Arsenal and England legend Kelly Smith being her idol:

"I was fortunate of watching her a couple of occasions with my father. Seeing her for England, too, her talent was remarkable. I wish that her career lasted more and still be playing now, but she was one of the best ever.

"I believe anyone that has played with Kelly would say the same thing and I didn't have the chance of doing that. But observing her play was someone that I always used to love."

Alessia Russo notched 12 goals in 21 games in the Women's Super League last season to divide the scoring award.

Not only was she one of the most clinical players in the league but Russo was also a persistent danger in the penalty area throughout the campaign, attempting more efforts (seventy-three) and recording a superior xG (nine point seven) than any other player.

Her capability to aid the side beyond scoring distinguishes her.

Fellow player a teammate often delivered forward balls into Russo, so strong hold-up play was essential.

Her skill to retreat into midfield, creating space from her nearby marker through quick, incisive runs stood out.

If a defender got in tight, she used her physicality to win free-kicks, helping her team gain settled possession in the opponents' half. In the Champions' League last season, nobody was fouled more than the forward (fifteen).

When the ball does stick, her control are extremely efficient. Her regular awareness of her surroundings means she remains aware of where rivals are.

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

By keeping possession in tough situations, she is often capable to act as an release option for her team under pressure.

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