Women's Footballer of the Year Contender Russo

Age: 26 Playing Role: Forward Teams: The Gunners and England

Alessia Russo made history with her club as they emerged as 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 successful retention of their European Championship crown.

Russo found the net in the European Championship showpiece match and hit top form for her club, making significant contributions throughout the season in front of goal and with her defensive efforts.

Russo was named the FWA's top female player for last season.

She was the Women's Super League's co-leading goalscorer, earning a share of the Golden Boot 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 Professional Footballers' Association and the European teams of the year.

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

"I play my best football when I'm having fun and I know my efforts in practice and I'm getting my work done, so that's something that are within my power.

"Numerous elements to a number nine position, it requires precision and there are tiny differences. I continue to develop. We have great coaches here at the club. There are top teammates to learn off as well. Then when the important matches come around, the greater your experience, the more comfortable you become."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

"The entire competition was a total emotional ride. There were ups and downs. It was emotionally really hard. It was taxing on our bodies.

"I recall after the last-eight game, many players were really, really battered and bruised. The pressure was immense. But recovery had to be swift. It moves so fast.

"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 team, 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 grind out results."

On the Champions League final:

"The overriding feeling that stands out from that whole day was just being so calm, like we were confident our preparation was complete, 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've got to be comfortable not having the ball because their skill is exceptional. When in possession, they don't give it away that often.

"As players in the press and out of possession, we were highly concentrated on our job at hand. It was a lot of running and a lot of defensive work. But ultimately that led to success. I think that you have to be OK winning games like that as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I got the pleasure of seeing her play a couple of occasions with my dad. Watching her internationally, 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 agree and I never got the pleasure of doing that. But watching her was something that I greatly admired."

The striker notched twelve goals in twenty-one games in the WSL the previous campaign to divide the Golden Boot.

She was not just one of the deadliest players in the league but she was also a persistent danger in the penalty area all season long, attempting more efforts (seventy-three) and recording a superior xG (9.7) than any other player.

Russo's ability to contribute to the team beyond scoring sets her apart.

Team-mate a teammate regularly played progressive passes into her, so strong hold-up play was necessary.

Russo's ability to retreat into midfield, freeing herself from her nearby marker through quick, incisive runs was notable.

If a marker got in tight, Russo used her physicality to draw fouls, assisting the side gain settled possession in the enemy territory. In the Champions' League the prior year, no player was drawn more fouls than the forward (15).

When the play settles, Russo's touches are highly effective. Her regular awareness of her environment means she remains aware of where rivals are.

Russo takes few contacts on the ball, directing it away from defenders applying player-to-player pressure, before finding nearby team-mates oriented forward.

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

She can convert tough balls into extended spells of controlled play and such phases in the attacking zone lead to goals, several of these she ends up scoring herself.