Women's Soccer Player of the Year Candidate Alessia Russo

Years Old: 26 Position: Striker Clubs: Arsenal and the English national team

The talented forward created a legacy with her club as they became the pioneering British team to win the prestigious European competition since the North London side did in the 2000s, and also helped guide England to the defence of their continental title.

Russo found the net in the European Championship showpiece match and hit top form for her team, playing a crucial role all campaign long in front of goal and with her work off the ball.

The forward was honored as the FWA's top female player for last season.

Russo finished as the Women's Super League's joint top scorer, earning a share of the Golden Boot with her rival striker.

She scored twelve league goals for Arsenal and provided assists for a couple more.

Her name was put forward for the prestigious individual award and named in the PFA and the European teams of the year.

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

"My top performances come when I'm enjoying myself and I'm confident my efforts in practice and completing my tasks, so that's something that I can always control.

"There's so many different aspects 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 Arsenal. There are top teammates to learn off as well. Then when the important matches arrive, the more you do them, the more comfortable you become."

Reflecting on England's European triumph:

"The whole tournament was a complete rollercoaster. There were ups and downs. It was emotionally really hard. It was taxing on our bodies.

"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. The schedule is relentless.

"I think the way that we won throughout that whole tournament was just determination and toughness. And we were aware that we had the squad, we knew that we had the necessary qualities.

"Facing the best teams in the world, the best players in the world and occasionally you have to win a little bit dirty."

Discussing the European final:

"The main emotion that stands out from that whole day was just being very composed, like we knew our preparation was complete, we knew that we had the ability, and we knew that we believed in the game plan and what we aimed to achieve.

"Naturally playing against a team like Barcelona, you've got to be comfortable not having 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 high press and defensively, we were really focused on our job at hand. It was a lot of running and a lot of defensive work. But in the end 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 got the pleasure of seeing her play a few times with my dad. Watching her internationally, too, she was just incredible. I hope that she could have played longer and still be playing now, but she ranks among the greats.

"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 something that I always used to love."

Alessia Russo notched 12 goals in 21 games in the Women's Super League the previous campaign to share the Golden Boot.

She was not just one of the most clinical players in the league but she was also a persistent danger in the box throughout the campaign, attempting more efforts (73) and recording a superior xG (nine point seven) than any other player.

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

Team-mate Mariona Caldentey often delivered forward balls into her, so effective ball retention was necessary.

Russo's ability to retreat into midfield, creating space from her opposing defender through sharp, darting movements stood out.

If a marker got in tight, she used her physicality to draw fouls, helping her team gain settled possession in the opponents' half. In the Champions' League the prior year, nobody was fouled more than the Arsenal striker (fifteen).

When the play settles, her control are extremely efficient. Her frequent scanning of her surroundings means she remains aware of where opponents are.

Russo takes few contacts on the ball, directing it away from opposing players marking closely, before locating close colleagues positioned facing towards the goal.

By retaining the ball in difficult scenarios, she is often capable to act as an release option for her side in trouble.

She can convert tough balls into extended spells of controlled play and these possessions in the attacking zone result in scores, several of these she finishes personally.