Anita Asante hopes her legacy will help improve representation in women’s sports

“She did it. Maybe one day I can achieve.”

Former England defender Anita Asante hopes that her legacy will not only help develop the women's game as a whole, but inspire those from all backgrounds.

Last week, England honoured their pledge to commemorate all former 227 Lionesses by awarding legacy caps to mark their achievement. Receiving her cap, number 152, Asante, alongside her father, felt the occasion marked recognition for what each individual did to help develop her career.

“I'm super proud, I've got my dad here with me as well,” the 37-year-old said.

“It means a lot because it just shows that all the time, the commitment, the dedication I've put in over the years for England has really meant something to, not just myself and my family, but people that have come and watched me over the years, the managers who've supported my development and allowed me to have the opportunities. It's an incredible day to be here.”

Asante recorded an impressive 71 caps for England but played also club football across the world, representing English giants Arsenal and Chelsea, before four years in Sweden with Rosengard and ending her career last summer after a two-year stint at Aston Villa.

During her 19-year-career, she also played for several clubs in the United States and since her retirement has joined the coaching staff at Bristol City, who are currently leading the Women's Championship and on course to return to the WSL.

“I think now we can look back in retrospect and go, you know what? Give ourselves some credit,” Asante added, speaking on how her generation of Lionesses helped pave the way for the current wave of success in England.

“We really battled hard to try and put ourselves in a position and create a foundation that we've seen the current Lionesses have just ran with in continuing that that success.”

After being presented with their legacy caps, many launched them into the air in a celebratory moment, marking a milestone of achievements for everyone in attendance.

When asked about what the standout moments for her in an England shirt were, the ex-defender chose not to name games or goals, but credit those around her.

“Ultimately, it's all the players that I played with,” she said. “The players that I grew up with in my generation, Jill Scott, Alex Scott, Lianne Sanderson, Eni Aluko, I can name a bunch of them who are all in the game involved in some way and supporting the game still and still successful off the pitch.

Speaking on the incredible achievements of the Lionesses that saw them lift the Euro 2022 trophy, along with three other titles in the last 14 months, Asante believes it's their character that makes them such standout role models, away from their on-pitch abilities.

“They're all incredible visible role models out there. They're not afraid to use their voice and speak up on issues that are important to them and important to young girls and women,” she explained.

“They've not just impacted young girls, they've impacted women of all generations that have felt let down by institutions in terms of opportunity in anything, whether that's sport or other industries. That's what they've done for the game, and that that message is spreading far and wide.”

But it's what Asante wants her own legacy to look like and how she wants to be remembered that echoes the social development that England has undertaken in attempt to try and diversify representation and get more young people from all backgrounds opportunities in football, an issue still very prevalent in the current, predominantly white England squad.

“I think, just to show that representation matters, and everyone uses that cliche, but it is true,” the 2007 Champions League winner said.

“My idols growing up were the Williams sisters because I saw them as trailblazers in a sport that really rejected them just for the way they looked and who they were so that's what I would love.

“I've always just wanted people to know that I played with joy, with fun and a smile on my face…that every single person I interacted with, from players to coaches to opposition players, all have good stories that they would share when my name would come up and that for younger people as well who are from my background culturally, socially, whatever, that they've seen me and gone, 'you know, what she did it maybe one day I can achieve it'; that to me would mean more than anything.”