Female Footballer of the Year Candidate Alessia Russo

Years Old: 26 Playing Role: Striker Clubs: Arsenal and England

Alessia Russo made history with Arsenal as they became the pioneering English team to win the Women's Champions League since the Gunners did in 2008, and also played a key role in leading the Lionesses to the defence of their European Championship crown.

She scored in the European Championship showpiece match and found her groove for her team, making significant contributions all campaign long in front of goal and with her defensive efforts.

The forward was named the FWA's women's footballer of the year for last season.

She was the WSL's joint top scorer, earning a share of the Golden Boot with Khadija Shaw.

Russo netted 12 league goals for the club and provided assists for a further two.

She was also nominated for the prestigious individual award and named in the PFA and the Uefa Champions League teams of the year.

Russo on how she feels she has improved over the past year:

"I play my best football when I'm enjoying myself and I know my efforts in practice and completing my tasks, so that's something that I can always control.

"There's so many different aspects to a striker's role, it's so detailed and there are tiny differences. I'm always still learning. We have great coaches here at Arsenal. I have great players to learn off as well. Then when the important matches arrive, the more you do them, the more you get used to them."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

"The whole tournament was a total emotional ride. There were ups and downs. It was emotionally really hard. We were physically drained.

"I recall after the Sweden [quarter-final] game, many players were extremely sore and injured. The pressure was immense. But recovery had to be swift. The schedule is relentless.

"In my view the way that we won throughout that whole tournament was just grit and resilience. And we were aware that we had the squad, we knew that we had the necessary qualities.

"You're playing against the top sides in the world, the best players in the world and sometimes you have to win a little bit dirty."

Discussing the European final:

"The main emotion that I can remember 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 trusted the game plan and what we aimed to achieve.

"Obviously playing against a team like Barcelona, you must accept not having the ball because their skill is exceptional. When they do have the ball, they don't give it away that often.

"We as athletes in the high press and out of possession, we were really focused on our assigned tasks. There was extensive movement and a lot of defensive work. But ultimately that led to success. In my opinion you have to be OK winning games like that as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I got the pleasure of watching her a couple of occasions with my dad. Seeing her for England, too, she was just incredible. I hope that her career lasted more and she was active today, but she ranks among the greats.

"I think 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 greatly admired."

Alessia Russo scored 12 goals in twenty-one games in the Women's Super League the previous campaign to divide the Golden Boot.

She was not just one of the most clinical players in the league but she was also a persistent danger in the box all season long, taking more shots (73) and recording a superior xG (nine point seven) than all her peers.

Her capability to aid the side outside of her goals sets her apart.

Fellow player Mariona Caldentey regularly played forward balls into Russo, so effective ball retention was necessary.

Russo's ability to retreat into midfield, freeing herself from her opposing defender through sharp, darting movements stood out.

If a defender got too close, Russo used her body well to draw fouls, helping her team secure the ball in the enemy territory. In the Champions' League last season, no player was fouled more than the forward (15).

When the play settles, Russo's touches are extremely efficient. Her frequent scanning of her environment means she remains aware of where rivals are.

Russo takes minimal touches on the ball, directing it away from opposing players applying player-to-player pressure, before finding close colleagues positioned facing towards the goal.

By retaining the ball in tough situations, she is regularly able to act as an outlet for her team under pressure.

She is able turn difficult passes into long periods of stable possession and such phases in the opponent's final third lead to goals, many of which she finishes personally.