Alex Greenwood has fast become a household name in women’s football and a role model for fellow teammates at Manchester City one of the clubs captains, with a spell in the same role on the international stage during the Arnold Clark Cup.
The 29-year-old told MEN Sport how she compartmentalises the responsibilities of being a role model both on and off the field. “From young children to the team, it looks very different," she said.
"So, for the team, I want to be a teammate who is approachable, who they can lean on, I'll be honest with them and I'm not going to scream and shout I’m going to have a conversation with them and get to know them and try to get the best out of them because if I can get the best out of my team then we’re going to be successful.
“Whereas for the younger generation, it’s being a role model and a female in football who they can look up to and want to inspire to be.”
When asked how it feels to see young children with her name on the back of their shirts, she said: “It's lovely, it's so nice and not just to see my name but seeing any of the girls' names on the back of kids' shirts it's a really nice sight to see and when we turn up to England games up and down the country and there’s little girls and boys running down the street and chasing the bus with our names on their backs is great.”
Greenwood has been that authority figure since the 2021/22 season when she was introduced to the captain’s armband at City, a year after joining the club. However, she believes she is dissimilar to those who have gone before her: “I think I'm a different leader and a different captain to some.
“Everyone I’ve been captained or led by has been different, from Casey Stoney to Steph [Houghton] to Leah [Williamson], they’re so, so different and I'm also very different to them. But everyone brings something different. It’s a massive honour to wear the armband for anyone, Manchester City and my country but it's a responsibility I accept and quite enjoy.
“I don’t think of it as pressure,” she continued. “We ask for these opportunities, we want to win trophies and play at the best tournaments. It's not pressure but it's something you enjoy doing. Pressure is playing in a World Cup final and a Euros final and delivering,” she said with a smile.
Greenwood went on to explain how her journey stemmed from her relationship with Everton Coach Mo Marley. “She was definitely a leadership figure herself but probably a little bit different [to me]," she added. "Mo’s very, very vocal and very loud and says what she thinks and I think elements of that I’ve got, elements maybe not, but she's definitely a massive influence for the person I am and more importantly, the footballer I am.”
Greenwood has partnered with Greene King pubs to speak as part of their commitment to showing more WSL games across its Manchester city centre sites.
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