Page 3 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.5 2021-22

Lucy presented with FIFA awards

Back in December, Lucy Bronze was named as the Best
FIFA Women’s Player of the Year for 2020.
The Manchester City and England full back, who
was also selected in the FIFA FIFPRO Women’s World
XI, has received her awards at the City Football
Academy, surrounded by her family.
Lucy, who has also been voted as BBC Women’s
Footballer of the Year, was personally presented with
her trophies by FIFA General Secretary Fatma Samoura.
“It’s really nice,” she said. “It's quite funny
because this [the boardoom] is the room where the live
streaming took place initially, when I found out that I'd
first won the award.
“It's quite cool to come back into the same room and actually have both the trophies with
me now. I kind of forgot that I didn't have it at home, to be honest with you! But yes, it's nice to
finally get my hands on it. It's very heavy as well!”
Lucy initially spoke of her surprise when winning the award back in December, but having
now had some time to reflect on it, how does that make her feel?
“I'm just super honoured and very grateful for it,” she enthused. “Obviously, I've worked
hard my entire career to make myself the best player that I can be.
“To have been awarded any award, whether it was in the 11 or to actually be named the best
player in the world, I'm just truly honoured and grateful. I said when I when I first won the award,
it didn't really sink in and I didn't really know how I felt, and I probably feel the same now, to be
honest.
“Probably only once my career has come to an end - in a long time, hopefully – I’ll look
back on my achievements, and I think this would probably be up there as one of my greatest ones.”
Having also named in the FIFA Pro World 11, Lucy said that accomplishment ranks among
your favourite accolades. Although no stranger to individual awards, Lucy admits that they are
the result of hard work, rather than any personal motivations.
“I wouldn't necessarily say I'm motivated to have my name on the trophy or to have my
name in lights, but I am motivated to be the best player I can be and the best right back in the
world,” she said.
“Back in the day, I worked hard to get my spot off Alex Scott - she was the best right back
in the world. I saw that as a challenge and something that I wanted to do, so I guess I'm motivated
by wanting to be the best in my position and the best at what I do.
“It's obviously nice to get the trophies, but I don't really feel like I need my name on the
trophy to feel that. I just enjoy that competition.”
Lucy is currently recovering from injury and is yet to appear for Manchester City or
England this season following successful surgery on her right knee in August. She has spoken in
the past about her passion of growing the women's game and helping the next generation, so how
important is it for female athletes to be recognised with such awards on a global stage?
“It is so important,” she replies. “I think there's a lot of girls who want to be motivated,
want to inspire, want to be the best players in the world and how are they supposed to try and
achieve that if they can't see that, and if there’s no such thing?
“I think it's important that we have these award nights where we celebrate success and
celebrate the best players all over the globe and all over the pitch.
“I think it's excellent for both young girls and boys to be able to see that and to see who the
best players are, so they can go out and support them and their teams alongside just enjoying how
good they are and how much the women's game is improving.”
Issue no. 5 - 30 September 2021 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk