Leah Williamson: England's captain who has inspired a generation
90min is championing 10 influential women in football this International Women's Day.
On July 31, 2022, Leah Williamson got to fulfil a childhood dream few ever will achieve.
Roared on by a capacity crowd at Wembley, England's captain ended the country's 56-year wait for major international glory by lifting the Women's European Championship - downing Germany 2-1 after extra-time thanks to goals from Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly.
The significance of the moment was not lost on Williamson, who like many of her teammates have inspired a generation to overcome obstacles and adversity to achieve their dreams.
England's success was also reflective of the kind of character Williamson is. A leader, a winner, an individual who continually strives for more.
Only last week, Williamson guided Arsenal to Conti Cup success over rivals Chelsea - a team that have dominated in recent years under the management of Emma Hayes.
Growing up in a household where the love for Arsenal ran deep, Williamson was drawn to the passion that surrounded the team.
At the age of nine, Williamson joined Arsenal as a youth player, and was later given the opportunity to serve as the mascot for the UEFA Champions League final. Arsenal triumphed with a 1-0 win over Swedish side Umea.
Players like Alex Scott, Jayne Ludlow, Kelly Smith, Rachel Yankee, and Faye White made up a team that was a formidable force, and a shining example of what could be achieved with grit, determination, and unwavering dedication.
Williamson made her senior debut for Arsenal at 17 years old, and within one year, she had emerged as a pivotal member of the team, with her impressive performances and unyielding commitment, making her one of the most promising young players at the time.
It was a remarkable rise to prominence, one that was marked by a series of accomplishments, including the signing of her first professional contract and the prestigious PFA Young Women's Player of the Year award in 2015.
Winning the Euros, however, catapulted Williamson and the Lionesses into a whole other realm of fame, with dominant performances throughout the tournament leading to a tense victory over Germany.
“Naturally it’s my job to go out for 90 minutes, to play, and win, but I think, when we look back on this tournament as a whole, we’ve really started something," Williamson said before the final.
“I’ve only ever been involved in this workplace, in football, but I think in most workplaces across the world, women still have a few more battles to face and to try overcome.
READ MORE ABOUT 10 OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN FOOTBALL
“I think that for every success that we make, for every change of judgement or perception or opening the eyes of somebody who views women as somebody with the potential to be equal to her male counterpart, I think that makes change in society.
“I think that’s a powerful message that we have the power to, in a typically male-dominated environment, these strides that we take forward can impact everybody on that wider scale.”
The role of being the England captain has taken on a greater meaning than ever before and at just 25 years old, Williamson has not only lead by example on the pitch but also embodied the spirit and ethos of the emerging era of women's football.
Today, on International Women's Day, the Lionesses' EURO legacy wish has been achieved with a government announcement to create equal school sport opportunities for girls in sports.
"The success of the summer has inspired so many young girls to pursue their passion for football.
"We see it as our responsibility to open the doors for them to do so and this announcement makes that possible. This is the legacy that we want to live much longer than us as a team."
And on the pitch, Williamson still has goals that she is keen to accomplish. Next up, the FIFA World Cup this summer.
“When we go to the World Cup as a team next year, we’re going to compete, that’s our sole focus, but adding this longevity to success is going to be powerful beyond measure if the team can achieve that.”
Major achievements
- Arsenal - FA WSL: 2018/19
- Arsenal - FA Women's Cup: 2013/14, 2015/16
- Arsenal - FA Women's League Cup: 2015, 2017/18, 2022/23
- England - UEFA Women's Championship: 2022
- England - SheBelieves Cup: 2019
- England - Arnold Clark Cup: 2022, 2023
- PFA Young Women's Player of the Year: 2015
- FA WSL PFA Team of the Year: 2019/20, 2021/22
- UEFA Women's Championship Team of the Tournament: 2022
- IFFHS Women's World Team: 2022
- FIFA FIFPRO Women's World 11: 2022
- Appointed Officer of The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2023 for services to association football.