Faye White

Faye Deborah White, (born 2 February 1978) is a former English footballer who captained Arsenal Ladies in the FA Women's Super League and was the longest serving captain of England to date, overtaking the 26-year-old record previously held by Carol Thomas. One of the most recognised and respected players in the women's game, Faye was a commanding presence at the heart of the Arsenal and England teams from the late 1990s until her retirement in 2013. Faye was recognised for services to Sport in the Queen's New Year's Honours List 2007, being appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) In recognition of her achievements she was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2015.
Club career.
Her football journey began when, aged ten, she joined in the training sessions of her brother's team Horley Town. After three years of playing with her brother and his teammates Faye decided to go to an all-girls coaching session and it was here that her path to the Arsenal Ladies team began, as she met Jim Muir, the coach of a local girls' side Horsham Ladies. Faye very quickly worked her way into the reserves and became a first-team player aged just 14. It was while at Horsham, still aged just 16, that White was called up for the national team by Ted Copeland.
In the 1996–97 season Faye was tapped up by Vic Akers and Arsenal Ladies. It did not take her long to make another big impact, earning her first international cap vs Scotland. White broke into the first team, cementing a position at the heart of Arsenal's central defence. She collected her first trophy that year, the FA Women's Premier League.
In 1997–98, due to White's performances in north London she was named the Premier League Player of the Year. Arsenal won the FA Women's Cup and Premier League Cup.
White achieved major success despite suffering numerous injuries including two cruciate ligament injuries, which kept her out of football for nine months each time. During her career White amassed a collection of 31 major trophies at club competition level, winning the inaugural FA Women's Super League in 2011, the FA Women's Premier League 10 times (including seven consecutive years from 2003–04 to 2009–10), the FA Women's Cup nine times and the League Cup six times.
Whilst club captain, Arsenal won "The Quadruple" (UEFA Women's Cup, Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup), two "trebles" (all three major domestic competitions) and four "doubles" (League title & FA Cup). The UEFA Women's Cup victory in 2007 remains the only victory by an English team since the tournament's inception.
International career.
White made her England début against Scotland in 1997, aged 19, followed by her full début against France in 1998 when she was named player of the match. White went on to represent her country in her first major tournament at UEFA Euro 2001 in Germany.
In 2002, she was named by Hope Powell as England captain against Nigeria, during the qualification campaign for FIFA World Cup in USA. White was to keep the armband until her international retirement in 2012.
She led the Lionesses at UEFA Euro 2005 in England, 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup in China, UEFA Euro 2009 in Finland and 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany.
At the Quarter Final stage of the 2007 World Cup vs USA in Tianjin, White's nose was broken by an elbow from Abby Wambach ten minutes before half time. White played the remaining duration of the game with the injury, making several vital headed clearances, however was unable to prevent a World Cup exit to the top ranked national team in the world.
In 2009, White, in her third major championship finals as captain, led England to the final of Euro 2009 in Helsinki, Finland, where the team lost out to reigning World and European Champions, Germany. She wore a protective face mask in the final after breaking her cheekbone in the quarter-final win over Finland in Turku, just six days after having surgery.
In the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup Quarter Final penalty shoot-out versus France at the BayArena, Leverkusen, White missed England's fifth penalty, seeing the French win 4–3 and progress to the Semi-Finals.
White was one of the first female players to be given a central contract by The Football Association and also served as an ambassador for England's 2018 World Cup bid.
In April 2012, just prior to the announcement of the Great Britain squad for the upcoming Olympic tournament, White, while still recovering from knee surgery, announced her pregnancy and made the decision to retire from international football.
Retirement.
In April 2012, White announced that she was expecting her first child and thus, her international retirement. In March 2013, White announced her retirement from her playing career after 17 years as a professional.
Media work.
White maintains her commitment to promoting women's football and the development of the game via her extensive media work, appearing regularly as co-commentator and studio pundit on television and radio for the BBC, BT Sport, SKY Sports, FATV, ESPN, Eurosport and Radio 5 Live.
Non-playing career.
White was awarded an honorary degree by the University of Hertfordshire in November 2013.
White acted as the Ambassador for the 2012-13 UEFA Women's Champions League Final in London. Faye is also an ambassador for the Football Foundation, the UK's largest sporting charity.
She is the Marketing Officer for Arsenal LFC in the FA WSL and a qualified sports massage therapist.
Personal life.
White was born and grew up in Horley, Surrey and attended Horley Infants School, Yattendon Middle School Horley and Oakwood School, Horley.
She attended Reigate College, and later returned to open the new sports centre in 2010.
She has two sons, Lukas, born in 2012 and Jake, born in 2016.