08/ FEATURED WOMEN’S SOCCER PLAYER– KELLY SMITH

One of the most well known players in the Women’s game, Kelly Smith has rightfully earned a global reputation for her performances for club and country.

After scoring a hat-trick against Holland at Charlton in August, Vera Pauw, the Dutch coach, called Kelly ‘The best player in the World’. With England making it to the World Cup in China Kelly had the stage to prove her case.

Kelly got 2007 off to a fine start when she was voted ‘Player of the Tournament’ at the Four Nations Tournament in China in January.

She followed that up with some exceptional displays at the World Cup, twice ‘Player of the Match’ she scored four goals and was named in the team of the tournament.

Kelly is the only English player to have played in the Women’s professional league in America. Although her appearances were limited in the latter part of her attendance due to a number of injuries including a torn cruciate ligament, she still proved herself to be one of the league’s most popular players.

Kelly was named East Conference Offensive Player of the Year for three consecutive years at college and the University retired her shirt number (the first time they had done that for a female athlete), in honour of all the records she had broken there.

Kelly Smith is undoubtedly one of England’s most skilful players, with former USA Head Coach April Heinrichs claiming that Kelly would have been an automatic selection for the USA team if she had been eligible.

Kelly Smith’s International Career

Kelly Smith was voted Women’s International Player of the Year in 2005, and fifth in the FIFA Women’s World Player of the year award in December, 2006.

She also picked up the player of the tournament award at the 2007 China Cup, playing against the United States, Germany and China.

She played in the 2007 World Cup in China, where she scored 4 goals to help England to the quarter finals.