On Women’s Football Tour

  Laura Deloose De stille muur die nooit om aandacht vroeg Er zijn speelsters die het stadion doen daveren. En er zijn speelsters die ervoor zorgen dat het stadion kan blijven staan. Laura Deloose hoorde bij die laatste categorie. Geen schreeuwer. Geen theatrale gebaren. Geen nood aan spotlights. Alleen positie. Alleen timing. Alleen plicht. Ze stond daar. Altijd. Niet als iemand die toevallig een shirt droeg. Maar als iemand die begreep wat dat shirt betekende. Het shirt van de Red Flames. Geen kledingstuk. Een belofte. Een belofte dat je blijft staan, zelfs wanneer niemand kijkt. Dat je het gevaar opvangt voordat het een probleem wordt. Dat je denkt in seconden die anderen niet eens zien. Laura speelde niet voor applaus. Ze speelde voor zekerheid. Voor de speelster naast haar. Voor de keepster achter haar. Voor het land voor haar. Verdedigers zoals Laura leven in de schaduw van doelpunten. Maar elke overwinning draagt hun handtekening. Elke nul op het b...

  Anouk Hoogendijk:  De roos die blijft bloeien Er zijn speelsters die komen en gaan. En er zijn speelsters die blijven. Niet op het veld. Niet in de opstelling. Maar in de lucht zelf. In de manier waarop een stadion ademt wanneer haar naam valt. Anouk Hoogendijk is zo’n naam. Ze was nooit luid. Nooit opzichtig. Ze hoefde niet te schreeuwen om gehoord te worden. Ze sprak met haar voeten. Met haar timing. Met dat ene moment waarop ze een stap vooruit zette en een aanval al had gelezen nog voor die geboren werd. Als een roos die niet bloeit om gezien te worden, maar omdat bloeien haar natuur is. Ze stond daar. Recht. Rustig. Onaantastbaar. Niet als iemand die vocht tegen de storm, maar als iemand die begreep dat de storm ooit zou gaan liggen. Anouk speelde zoals sommige mensen leven: met trouw. Met waardigheid. Met een stille belofte aan zichzelf dat ze nooit iemand anders hoefde te zijn. Je zag het in haar blik. Niet hard. Niet koud. Maar helder. Bewust. Aa...

  Julie Fleeting The Striker Every Modern Transfer List Would Begin With today There are statistics. And then there are statements of dominance . 116 goals in 121 international appearances for Scotland. Not a good ratio. Not even a great one. A ratio that belongs in a different realm. A realm reserved for those who did not just play the game — but imposed themselves upon it. Julie Fleeting belonged there. She played in an era before global marketing machines, before million-euro contracts, before the world watched every touch. There were no algorithms amplifying her name. There was only grass. Only instinct. Only goals. Every defender knew what might happen. And still, it happened. The efficiency of instinct Fleeting was not a striker of spectacle. She was a striker of certainty. She did not move to be seen. She moved to decide. Half a metre of space was enough. Half a second was enough. One moment of hesitation was fatal. She possessed the rarest quality a s...

  De Godinnen van Anderlecht: Solange Carvalhas Portugese flair op koude vrijdagavonden in Tubize Tubize op een vrijdagavond was geen plaats voor romantiek. De lucht was zwaar. De kou kroop langs je kraag. De lichten hingen stil boven het veld, alsof ze zelf ook liever ergens anders waren. Dit waren geen glamoureuze avonden. Dit waren avonden voor karakter. En net daar verscheen Solange Carvalhas. Geen drama. Geen grote gebaren. Alleen die eerste controle — zacht, beheerst — alsof de bal haar al kende. Waar anderen vochten tegen de omstandigheden, bracht zij iets onverwachts: Portugese flair in de Belgische winter. Ze vertraagde het spel wanneer het te wild werd. Ze versnelde het wanneer niemand het zag aankomen. En soms, plots, was ze daar in de zestien. Goal. Niet met brute kracht. Maar met intelligentie. Met timing. Met elegantie. Ze was middenveldster. Ze was topschutter. Ze was evenwicht en gevaar tegelijk. Op die koude vrijdagavonden in Tubize leerde Anderlech...

  Hanna Ljungberg The Silence Between Heartbeats There are players who arrive. And there are players who were always there. Hanna Ljungberg belongs to the second kind. She did not enter football like a storm. She entered like winter light through a window — quietly, steadily, inevitably. And before anyone realized what had happened, she was no longer part of the game. She was its rhythm. Number 10 on her back was never decoration. It was not a symbol of ego or spectacle. It was a promise. A quiet promise that wherever the ball would travel, it would find clarity in her presence. She never wasted movement. Every step had intention. Every touch carried memory. She played as if she understood something others did not — that football is not chaos, but timing. Not noise, but breath. Defenders tried to close her down, but they were always a fraction too late. Not because she was faster, but because she had already been there in her mind. She saw the future in small spaces. She liv...

Some departures don’t weaken a team immediately — they reveal their meaning years later. Goalkeepers do not see the game like others do. They stand alone, removed from the noise, watching everything unfold in front of them. They read patterns before they form. They sense danger before it becomes visible. Seven years ago, Hedvig Lindahl left Chelsea FC Women. At the time, it was just another squad decision. Another transition. Another professional goodbye in a sport that constantly moves forward. Nothing dramatic. Nothing emotional. Nothing, it seemed, historic. But football rarely reveals the true meaning of departures immediately. Sometimes, it takes years. Lindahl was not simply a goalkeeper passing through a successful club. She was a leader. A stabiliser. Someone who understood environments, not just matches. She had experienced football cultures where trust mattered as much as talent. Where people were not just resources, but pillars. Goalkeepers develop a different kind of intell...

  Karen Carney The Quiet Revolutionary Some players arrive with noise. Karen Carney arrived with purpose. She never needed to shout. She never needed theatrics. Her rebellion was quieter, and therefore more powerful. It lived in her movement, in her courage to demand more when “more” was not yet fashionable in women’s football. Karen Carney did not just play the game. She helped drag it forward. She grew up in a time when girls were still told—subtly or directly—that football was not entirely theirs. Facilities were poorer. Attention was minimal. Respect was conditional. Yet she walked onto those pitches anyway, not as a guest, but as an owner of her own destiny. And she stayed. Over 140 caps for England is not just a number. It is a testimony to endurance. It is winters survived. It is pain carried silently. It is the daily decision to return, again and again, when easier paths existed elsewhere. She represented England at a time when the shirt was heavier than it is now—n...

 Ze viel in in de 61ste minuut. En in de 62ste lag de bal al binnen. Dat is geen toeval. Dat is een signaal . Terwijl anderen minuten nodig hebben om “in de wedstrijd te komen”, komt Eva Oude Elberink erin en beslist ze. Twee goals, directe impact, wedstrijd gekanteld. FC Twente loopt vier punten uit. Titelrace opengebroken. Klaar. En dan moeten we blijven doen alsof dit soort invalbeurten geen selectiecriterium zijn? Bij achterstand heb je aan Oranje-zijde te vaak hetzelfde probleem: balbezit zonder dreiging, controle zonder tanden. Mooie structuren, maar niemand die zegt: “Geef mij dat moment maar.” Terwijl het antwoord soms gewoon op de bank zit. Invallen en scoren is een aparte kwaliteit . Niet iedereen kan dat. Niet iedereen durft dat. Het is makkelijk om te selecteren op basis van status, caps en vaste namen. Het is moeilijker om te erkennen dat voetbal ook beslist wordt door wie binnenkomt wanneer het brandt . Maar wie dat negeert, verliest wedstrijden die hij n...

 Celien Guns schrijft Belgische voetbalgeschiedenis in Portugal Het Belgische vrouwenvoetbal heeft er opnieuw een pionier bij. Celien Guns (27) kondigde via sociale media aan dat ze haar carrière verderzet bij Damaiense, een club in de Portugese eerste klasse. Daarmee wordt ze de eerste Belgische profvoetbalster die actief is in Portugal – een stap die niet alleen persoonlijk historisch is, maar ook symbolisch voor de internationalisering van onze speelsters. Guns droeg in totaal vier keer het shirt van de Belgian Red Flames, en bouwde daarnaast een veelzijdige clubcarrière uit: Lierse SK – begin van haar carrière, nationaal opgemerkt om haar loopvermogen en strijdlust. Club YLA – vaste waarde in de Super League, waar ze maturiteit en ervaring opdeed. sc Heerenveen – ervaring in de Eredivisie, waar ze in aanraking kwam met de fysieke intensiteit van het Nederlandse voetbal. Apollon Ladies (Cyprus) – Champions League-ervaring en een eerste buitenlandse avontuur. Damaiense (Portugal)...

  Rachel Brown: Head and Shoulders Above the Rest It was never about ticking boxes. It was never about rattling through PowerPoints until everyone falls asleep. Football is not theory. Football is feeling. And Rachel Brown embodies that better than anyone. She was once a damn good goalkeeper – strong, fearless, commanding her box. But today, she has become something else. The greatest female pundit there is. Because Rachel doesn’t just talk football. She lives it. She feels every tackle, every save, every goal. And when England won at Wembley, she didn’t hide behind analysis – she broke. Tears rolling down her face, dancing like Nobby Stiles, exploding with joy. That is what makes her unique. She doesn’t stand at a distance, safe and detached. She throws her heart into it, every single time. And when she speaks, you listen – because it’s real, because it’s raw. Rachel Brown bursts out of the screen. Passion, honesty, beauty, knowledge. A pundit who gives more than commentary – she ...

  A Career of Medals — but Remembered for the Miss Over the years, Peter Gerhardsson did a good job with Sweden. Several medals, big matches, and a team that often punched above its weight. But the public rarely remembers the full picture. What sticks in people’s minds is the last tournament — the one you don’t win. And this was his last match. He mishandled the penalty shootout. He let it come down to chaos instead of command. And when a player openly said afterwards “I didn’t even want to take one” — that’s not just a player doubting herself. That’s a player quietly saying: the coach abandoned me here. It’s harsh, but that’s football: You can earn medals for years, but you’re judged on the last moment you mismanaged. Wil je dat ik dit nog uitbreid met een sterke slotzin? Bijvoorbeeld: A good coach brings medals — a great one also shields his players from moments like this.

  Pace, passion, and pure dedication — you ran down the wing like it was your second home. With over 100 caps for Denmark and memories from World Cups and Euros, you played with fire in your boots and heart on your sleeve. Wishing you a birthday full of joy, and thank you for every thrilling run in red and white.

 Happy Birthday, Rachel Brown! Safe hands, sharp mind, and a true voice of the game. You guarded Everton’s goal with class, wore the England shirt with pride, and continue to lead with insight as a voice for women’s football. From shot-stopper to game-changer — you’ve never stopped inspiring. Wishing you a birthday as strong and grounded as your legacy.

  Happy Birthday, Glódís Perla Viggósdóttir! Strong, composed, and commanding — you are Icelandic steel with a touch of elegance. From Iceland to Sweden to Bayern Munich, you’ve led from the back with vision and voice. Not just a defender, but a presence. A leader. A rock. Wishing you a birthday filled with pride, strength, and joy. Til hamingju með afmælið, Glódís — the game is stronger with you in it.

Six years ago today I walked through the streets of Paris — crying and dancing at the same time, overwhelmed with pride, with joy, with love for the one who just saved it all. I told complete strangers how brilliant she was. How they had just witnessed greatness — “That’s Hedvig Lindahl. That’s my keeper.” It was the first time I ever celebrated in a way that felt almost shameless . No filter, no holding back. Just pure, wild emotion . Because that wasn’t just a penalty save. That was the release of years of loyalty, of fear, of silent hope — all unleashed in one glorious dive. And I? I exploded. Loud, ungraceful, uninhibited. Because finally — finally — she got what she deserved. She didn’t just stop Canada. She stopped the doubts. She reclaimed her aura. She reminded the world: “I’m Hedvig. And I’m not done.” That night in Paris was my personal final. Not on a scoreboard — but in my soul. And in that scandalous cheer of mine, a piece of football history ...

  Inleiding  De kracht achter de glorie De foto’s vertellen het verhaal. Niet van glitter. Niet van media. Niet van scripts. Maar van iets diepers. Een kapitein en een keeper. Twee vrouwen die elkaar vonden op het moment dat de wereld toekeek — en zij hun focus verlegden naar wat écht telde: elkaar. Dit is geen gewone voetbalvriendschap. Dit is Christie Rampone & Hope Solo — de as die een tijdperk van dominantie mogelijk maakte. Hoofdstuk 1 – De rust en de storm Hope Solo was een furie. Een kracht van de natuur. Gedreven, impulsief, op het randje van perfectie én conflict. En dan was daar… Christie Rampone. Rustig. Nuchter. Sereen. Niet om haar te temmen  maar om haar te dragen . Ze stonden symbool voor de balans binnen Team USA. De flamboyante Solo die matchen redde met wonderhanden. De standvastige Rampone die niemand liet ontsporen, niet in de backlijn, niet in het hart van de ploeg. Samen waren ze meer dan de som der delen. Ze waren de ziel van ...

  Christie Rampone – The Captain Who Never Left Us She was never loud. Never needed headlines. She just showed up. And kept showing up — again, and again, and again. From 1997 to 2015, she guarded the U.S. backline like a lighthouse guards a rocky coast. World Cups. Olympics. Friendlies. Crisis moments. She didn’t waver. Not once. She played under Tony DiCicco , stood beside Mia Hamm , lifted gold with Abby , cleared for Hope , and left a legacy for Crystal and Lindsey . Across four eras, she was the constant. In a team of stars, she was the spine. In a world of flash, she was foundation. While others danced, Christie stood firm . She didn't score the goals. She stopped the storms. 50 years today. And still no one has taken her place. Because how do you replace someone who held it all together, so long, so quietly? Happy Birthday, Captain America . We never stopped needing you. And we never will.

  Why Hope Solo Is a Good Role Model They told you she was too loud. Too strong. Too difficult. Too much. But maybe that’s exactly why she’s the role model we needed. Because girls don’t just need someone who smiles for the cameras. They need someone who shows what it looks like to speak up — even when it costs you. They need to see that being emotional doesn’t make you unstable. It makes you human . That standing your ground doesn’t make you arrogant — it makes you brave . Hope Solo didn’t fit the mold. She broke it. And for every girl who’s ever felt too intense, too serious, too different… she said: “Be all of it. Be you . And don’t apologize.” She’s not a polished fairy tale. She’s a fighter. A woman who fell, and got back up. Again. And again. And again. That’s not a scandal. That’s strength. So if you’re looking for a role model who teaches perfection — look elsewhere. But if you’re looking for someone who teaches resilience, truth, and surv...

Before social media. Before primetime coverage. Before the world watched… She was the moment. Not because she asked for it — but because she earned it. In 1999, she filled the Rose Bowl before anyone thought it was possible. They laughed when she booked it months in advance. Then they cried when history was made. 158 goals. Countless assists. Two World Cups. Two Olympic golds. But her numbers are just echoes. Her impact is what remains. She inspired a generation — and then another. And even now, when she walks into a room, it’s as if time itself pauses. An Icon Beyond Borders She didn’t just belong to the United States.She belonged to the game. Whether in Tar Heels blue or USWNT red,Mia Hamm moved with a clarity few ever reach —a purpose that made fans from every corner rise. She broke records,but more than that — she opened gates. Before club banners and before packed stadiums,she was already a beacon.For girls in Brazil, boys in Japan, dreamers in Nigeria…Mia Hamm meant: You can. S...