Women's Footballer of the Year Contender Alessia Russo

Age: 26 Playing Role: Striker Teams: Arsenal and the English national team

The talented forward made history with Arsenal as they emerged as the pioneering English team to claim victory in the prestigious European competition since the Gunners did in the 2000s, and also helped guide England to the defence of their continental title.

She scored in the European Championship showpiece match and found her groove for her team, making significant contributions all campaign long as an attacker and with her work off the ball.

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

She was the WSL's joint top scorer, sharing the Golden Boot with her rival striker.

She scored twelve league goals for the club and set up for a further two.

She was also nominated for the prestigious individual award and selected in the PFA and the European teams of the year.

Her thoughts on personal development over the previous season:

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

"Numerous elements 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 learn off as well. Then when the big games arrive, 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 was emotionally really hard. It was taxing on our bodies.

"I remember after the Sweden [quarter-final] game, a lot of us were extremely sore and injured. The pressure was immense. But you've got to turn it around quickly. 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.

"Facing the top sides in the world, the elite athletes in the world and occasionally you have to grind out results."

Discussing the European final:

"The overriding feeling that stands out from that whole day was just being so calm, like we were confident we'd done the work, we knew that we had what it takes, and we knew that we believed in the strategy and what we aimed to achieve.

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

"We as athletes in the high press and out of possession, we were highly concentrated on our job at hand. There was extensive movement 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 seeing her play a few times with my dad. Seeing her for England, too, her talent was remarkable. I hope 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 observing her play was something that I greatly admired."

Alessia Russo notched 12 goals in twenty-one games in the WSL last season to share the scoring award.

She was not just one of the deadliest players in the competition but she was also a persistent danger in the penalty area throughout the campaign, attempting more efforts (seventy-three) and having a higher expected goals tally (nine point seven) than any other player.

Russo's ability to contribute to the team outside of her goals sets her apart.

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 quick, incisive runs stood out.

If a defender got in tight, Russo used her physicality to draw fouls, helping her team secure the ball in the enemy territory. In the Champions' League the prior year, nobody was drawn more fouls than the Arsenal striker (15).

When the play settles, Russo's touches are extremely efficient. Her regular awareness of her environment means she remains aware of where opponents are.

She uses 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 difficult scenarios, Russo is often capable to act as an release option for her side in trouble.

She is able convert tough balls into long periods of controlled play and these possessions in the attacking zone lead to goals, several of these she ends up scoring herself.