Female Footballer of the Year Candidate Alessia Russo

Years Old: 26 Position: Striker Teams: The Gunners and the English national team

The talented forward created a legacy with her club as they became the pioneering English team to claim victory in the prestigious European competition since the Gunners did in 2008, and also helped guide the Lionesses to the defence of their European Championship title.

She scored in the European Championship final and hit top form for her club, making significant contributions all campaign long as an attacker and with her defensive efforts.

Russo was honored as the FWA's women's footballer of the year for the previous campaign.

Russo finished as the Women's Super League's joint top scorer, sharing the Golden Boot with Khadija Shaw.

She scored 12 league goals for the club and provided assists for a couple more.

She was also nominated for the prestigious individual award and selected in the Professional Footballers' Association and the Uefa Champions League teams of the year.

Her thoughts on personal development over the previous season:

"My top performances come when I'm having fun and I know my efforts in practice and completing my tasks, so that's something that are within my power.

"There's so many different aspects to a number nine position, it requires precision and there are so many fine margins. I continue to develop. Our staff is excellent here at the club. There are top teammates to gain knowledge from as well. Then when the important matches arrive, the more you do them, the more comfortable you become."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

"The whole tournament was a complete rollercoaster. There were ups and downs. It was emotionally really hard. It was taxing on our bodies.

"I recall after the Sweden [quarter-final] game, a lot of us were really, really battered and bruised. It was so intense. 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 I think that we knew that we had the squad, we knew that we had the necessary qualities.

"Facing the top sides in the world, the best players in the world and sometimes you have to win a little bit dirty."

On the Champions League final:

"The overriding feeling that stands out from that entire occasion was just being so calm, like we knew our preparation was complete, we knew that we had the ability, and we knew that we believed in the strategy and what we aimed to achieve.

"Naturally playing against a side such as Barça, you've got to be comfortable not having the ball because they're so talented. When they do have the ball, they retain it frequently.

"As players in the press and defensively, we were really focused on our job at hand. It was a lot of running and a lot of defensive work. But ultimately that's what got the job done. In my opinion you have to be content securing victories in that manner as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I was fortunate of watching her a couple of occasions with my dad. Watching her internationally, too, her talent was remarkable. I hope that her career lasted more and still be playing now, but she ranks among the greats.

"I think those who teamed up with her would say the same thing and I never got the pleasure of experiencing that. But observing her play was something that I greatly admired."

The striker notched 12 goals in 21 games in the Women's Super League last season to share the scoring award.

She was not just one of the most clinical players in the competition but she was also a constant threat in the penalty area throughout the campaign, attempting more efforts (73) and having a higher expected goals tally (nine point seven) than all her peers.

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

Fellow player a teammate often delivered progressive passes into her, so strong hold-up play was essential.

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

If a marker got too close, Russo used her physicality to win free-kicks, helping her team gain settled possession in the enemy territory. In the European tournament last season, nobody was drawn more fouls than the forward (15).

When the play settles, her control are highly effective. Her frequent scanning of her surroundings means she stays conscious of where opponents are.

She uses few contacts on the ball, moving it clear from defenders applying player-to-player pressure, before locating close colleagues positioned facing towards the goal.

By keeping possession in tough situations, she is regularly able to act as an release option for her side in trouble.

She can convert tough balls into long periods of controlled play and such phases in the attacking zone result in scores, several of these she ends up scoring herself.