Rachel Yankey

Rachel Aba Yankey (born 1 November 1979) is an English former footballer who played as a left winger or forward.

Yankey is best known for her long association with Arsenal Ladies, for whom she played 15 seasons over two separate spells, and is ranked among the Arsenal Ladies Legends.

She is one of the most decorated players in women's football, winning the FA Women's National Premier League seven times, the FA WSL twice, the FA Women's Cup eleven times, the FA Women's Premier League Cup six times and the UEFA Women's Cup once, while playing for Arsenal and Fulham Ladies.

Since making her debut in 1997, Yankey appeared on 129 occasions for the England national team and at the time became the most capped player ever to play for England, ahead of male goalkeeper Peter Shilton with 125 (though this record has since been beaten by several female players).

She was the second English female player, after Gillian Coultard, to make a century of international appearances.

In August 1997, Yankey made her senior England debut, scoring in a 4–0 win over Scotland at Almondvale Stadium.

Yankey became arguably the most famous female footballer in England, having modelled new England kits, and appeared on the FA women's homepage header.

She is also noted for appearing in the BBC's online BBC Sport 'Academy Masterclasses' mini-series, teaching young footballers basic soccer skills.

Yankey's senior playing career began at the age of 16, playing for Arsenal, when she spent a short time on loan with Laval Dynamites, a Canadian team, and then moved to Fulham in 2000.

It was here that she was registered as the first professional female footballer in England.

She joined Birmingham City before the 2004–05 season, and then, after being released from Birmingham, had a short spell with the New Jersey Wildcats of the W-League in the United States.

Yankey, along with England teammate Rachel Unitt, played for the Wildcats for the last seven games of the season, and helped them win the W-League championship.

She rejoined Arsenal for the 2005–06 season.

In May 2009, Yankey was one of the first 17 female players to be given central contracts by The Football Association.

However, in August 2009 she was surprisingly left out of coach Hope Powell's 22–player squad for Euro 2009 with Powell believing that her form did not justify a call–up.

But after a return to form with Arsenal Ladies, she was recalled by Powell for the 2010 Cyprus Cup, and won her 90th and 91st caps – as a 76th-minute substitute for Jessica Clarke in a 1–0 win over South Africa and as a starter in a 1–0 defeat to Canada.

A return to form at both club and international level saw Yankey being selected regularly again by Powell, and on 29 July 2010, Yankey became the second Englishwoman after Gillian Coultard to earn 100 caps during a home World Cup qualifier against Turkey.

Yankey, who was captain for the night, scored a goal and played the entire 90 minutes as England won 3–0.

In a World Cup warm–up friendly against the United States, Yankey hit the second goal in England's 2–1 win at Brisbane Road.

At the final tournament, Yankey netted in England's 2–0 group B win over Japan after coming on as a half–time substitute.

She also represented Brent in the London Youth Games as a youngster, and was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2011.

In 2011, she helped Arsenal to another domestic treble.

Yankey was also overlooked for the 2011 Women's World Cup qualifiers against Malta and Turkey.

Yankey was part of the Great Britain squad for the 2012 London Olympics.

In June 2012, Yankey equalled Coultard's record of 119 appearances for England in a 4–0 win in Slovenia.

She set a new record of 120 caps by playing in England's 3–0 win over Croatia at Bescot Stadium on 19 September 2012.

She was allotted 126 when the FA announced their legacy numbers scheme to honour the 50th anniversary of England's inaugural international.

In June 2012, Yankey was named in the 18–player Great Britain squad for the 2012 London Olympics.

In June 2013 Yankey played in a 1–1 friendly draw with Japan and broke Peter Shilton's all-time national record of 125 caps.

She was included in the England squad which performed poorly at UEFA Women's Euro 2013 and was eliminated in the first round.

Incoming England manager Mark Sampson left Yankey out of his first squad in December 2013.

He stressed that "the door is firmly open" for her to come back in.

In January 2014, Yankey signed a new two-year contract with Arsenal.

She was praised by the club's general manager, Vic Akers: "She remains a key part of the team and her ability and experience will be invaluable in the season ahead."

In December 2016, Yankey was released by Arsenal at the end of her contract.

Yankey had a brief foray into coaching, managing the London Bees from February to May 2019.

Yankey began playing football as the only girl in a boys' team.

Aged eight, she shaved her hair off, pretending to be a boy called "Ray" (an acronym of her birth names).

She was able to play in the boys' team for two years before her real identity was discovered.

Yankey joined Mill Hill United at youth level after the club's manager, Russell Mountford, attended an annual general meeting (AGM) at Yankey's boys' club.