Women's Soccer Player of the Year Contender Alessia Russo

Age: 26 Playing Role: Striker Teams: Arsenal and England

The talented forward created a legacy with her club as they became the pioneering British team to win the Women's Champions League since the Gunners did in 2008, and also helped guide the Lionesses to the defence of their European Championship title.

Russo found the net in the European Championship final and found her groove for her club, playing a crucial role all campaign long in front of goal and with her defensive efforts.

The forward was named the Football Writers' Association's women's footballer of the year for last season.

Russo finished as the WSL's co-leading goalscorer, earning a share of the Golden Boot with her rival striker.

She scored 12 league goals for the club and set up for a couple more.

Her name was put forward for the prestigious individual award and selected in the Professional Footballers' Association and the European season's best XIs.

Russo on how she feels she has improved over the previous season:

"I play my best football when I'm having fun and I know I'm training hard and completing my tasks, so those are aspects that I can always control.

"Numerous elements to a number nine position, it requires precision and there are tiny differences. I'm always still learning. Our staff is excellent here at the club. I have great players to gain knowledge from as well. Then when the important matches come around, the more you do them, 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. We were physically drained.

"I remember after the last-eight game, many players were extremely sore and injured. The pressure was immense. But you've got to turn it around quickly. It moves so fast.

"I think 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 elite athletes in the world and sometimes you have to win a little bit dirty."

Discussing the European final:

"The main emotion that I can remember from that entire occasion was just being so calm, like we knew we'd done the work, we knew that we had what it takes, and we knew that we trusted the game plan and what we wanted to do.

"Naturally playing against a team like Barcelona, you've got to be comfortable not possessing the ball because they're so talented. When they do have the ball, they don't give it away that often.

"As players in the press and defensively, we were really focused on our job at hand. There was extensive movement and a lot of defensive work. But in the end that led to success. I think that you have to be content winning games like that as well."

Regarding her inspiration, Kelly Smith:

"I was fortunate of seeing her play a few times with my father. Seeing her for England, too, she was just incredible. I wish that her career lasted more and she was active today, but she was one of the best ever.

"I think anyone that has played with Kelly would say the same thing and I never got the pleasure of experiencing that. But observing her play was someone that I greatly admired."

The striker notched 12 goals in twenty-one games in the WSL last season to divide the scoring award.

She was not just one of the most clinical players in the competition but Russo was also a constant threat in the penalty area throughout the campaign, taking more shots (seventy-three) and recording a superior xG (9.7) than all her peers.

Russo's ability to aid the side beyond scoring distinguishes her.

Team-mate a teammate regularly played progressive passes into Russo, so strong hold-up play was necessary.

Her skill to drop deep, freeing herself from her nearby marker through sharp, darting movements stood out.

If a marker got in tight, she used her body well to draw fouls, assisting the side gain settled possession in the opponents' half. In the European tournament last season, nobody was fouled more than the forward (fifteen).

When the ball does stick, Russo's touches are extremely efficient. Her regular awareness of her surroundings means she remains aware of where opponents are.

She uses minimal touches on the ball, directing it away from opposing players marking closely, before finding nearby team-mates positioned facing towards the goal.

By keeping possession in difficult scenarios, she is often capable to act as an outlet for her side in trouble.

She can convert tough balls into extended spells of stable possession and these possessions in the opponent's final third result in scores, several of these she ends up scoring herself.