Ahead of the game

Lioness Alex Greenwood on inspiring young footballers and meeting Prince William

- LESLEY JONES

With the upcoming launch of her new AG5 Academy in Manchester, Lionesses star Alex Greenwood is paving the way for more success stories in women’s football. Her aim is to give young girls access to facilities and coaching to “help them on their football journey” and to inspire a new generation of players.

But despite this exciting new project and her glorious win with the England team at the Euros last year, the 26-year-old – who plays for Manchester City and lives with her partner, Sheffield United player Jack O’Connell, 29 – is modest about her talents. She admits, “My boyfriend will say, ‘Alex, you’re doing unbelievable things in football and I always kind of brush it off a little bit and go, ‘Yeah, but there’s still so much more to do.’”

The star has been honoured with a giant mural in her hometown of Bootle, Merseyside, and says it brought home to her the fact that she’s a role model for the younger generation both on and off the field.