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Alex Greenwood’s appointment as Manchester Metropolis captain appears like a pure, virtually inevitable development.
Few gamers have what it takes to step into the sneakers vacated by Steph Houghton on the finish of final season, however Greenwood is undoubtedly the correct match. Houghton was one who set the requirements in ladies’s soccer each on and off the pitch all through her profession.
Talking on the WSL media day previous to the 2024/25 season kicking off final week, supervisor Gareth Taylor outlined simply how large of a gap Houghton’s departure left within the squad.
“She carried the staff, the membership, a hell of so much and has been rightly thought to be one of many greats not only for us as a membership but in addition for England, for the WSL,” he mentioned.
“I believe that whenever you lose that presence it may be actually troublesome however I believe as at all times when one individual vacates it opens up an area for others. I believe I take advantage of the time period ‘others’ as a result of the quantity of area that Steph sat in means multiple individual [is needed] to have the ability to try this.”
Within the days main as much as the brand new season, City confirmed what everybody most likely already knew. Greenwood is not any stranger to management, and he or she wore the armband for big spells final season when Houghton was on the bench, which makes her the correct alternative to hold the torch ahead.
Greenwood’s intelligence and talent to stay calm underneath strain makes her a determine Metropolis can depend on in high-stakes moments. Her function in England’s defence – significantly throughout the World Cup in 2023 – solely reinforces her readiness to tackle the accountability.
Talking in a press convention final week, Taylor outlined why Greenwood was the correct option to put on the armband, but in addition confirmed she will likely be a part of a wider management group that may share the accountability transferring ahead.
“Alex is an enormous driver of the way in which we do issues, on and off the pitch, which is de facto necessary, in addition to being a high, high participant,” the supervisor mentioned.
“Steph did quite a lot of work, contemplating she did not play an terrible lot final season. She supported Alex very well with quite a lot of small bits off the pitch the place it allowed Alex to be herself and that is what the management group is for, to assist her.
“Captaincy, at instances, will rotate on matchdays, which is regular. I believe that is good in a way. It is extra like a shared factor, however Alex is that membership captain and he or she’s that essential determine that we actually need to embody every part that we do at Metropolis.”
Greenwood joined Metropolis from Olympique Lyonnais again in 2020, having represented the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool, Notts County and Everton all through her profession. Success has adopted the Liverpool-born defender all over the place she’s been.
She helped United win the Championship and safe promotion to the WSL in 2019, and through her one season in France with Lyon, she gained each a league title and Champions League trophy. Since becoming a member of Metropolis 4 years in the past, she has at all times been a part of the management group, and performed a key function as they gained the FA Cup in 2020 and League Cup in 2022.
Greenwood’s activity as Metropolis captain will likely be to information them into the group stage of the Champions League, whereas additionally competing for home honours. Metropolis got here agonisingly near clinching the WSL title forward of Chelsea final season, and it’ll take one other monumental effort to push their rivals for the second season working.
“It’s most likely extra necessary [the off-pitch leadership role],” Greenwood instructed mancity.com. “We’re human beings earlier than we’re footballers on the finish of the day.
“Everybody has a life away from the sport and I respect that. When you might be sincere with folks and perceive they’re additionally human, it performs an enormous function in getting one of the best out of the gamers on the pitch. For me, that’s so necessary and one thing I’ve realized in my profession.
“Not each day is 100% however convey each share of what you’ve bought to that day. That’s all we ask of one another and if we are able to get one of the best out of one another each single day then I imagine this staff will likely be actually profitable.”
