My dream is to manage my childhood club Arsenal - Asante

The messages from childhood friends boasting they once played alongside her will probably continue, despite the fact that she will leave behind a 19-year career doing what she loves.

There are not many people who can say they have represented their country 71 times, played in five major tournaments, gone to an Olympic Games, won multiple trophies in England and Sweden and played in the United States.

It is no surprise that the former England international gets messages from her friends asking her to prove to their kids that she knows them.

Asante, 36, hopes she has represented that community throughout her career but she already has plans to give back to London, where her journey started.

I want to get into management and coaching. I want to support the next generation of players and share my experiences with them.

My long-term ambition is to one day manage my childhood club, and it would be amazing to go back to where it all began. I want to live in a world that gave me so much.

'They shaped me through their own character'

Anita Asante at Arsenal
Asante started her career at Arsenal alongside some of the country's greatest players

The only time an English side has won the women's competition was when Asante was a member of the 2007 squad.

She played with some of the game's greatest players, including the likes of Rachel Yankey, Emma Byrne and Alex Scott.

I enjoyed playing a lot. I had the freedom to be who I was and not have to change who I was.

The players had other jobs and were training twice a week. Mary Phillip had children. It was part of the ingrained ethic to work hard and want to be there. It was our passion. It created a winning mentality and spirit, and ultimately that special bond, because we all shared that.

Although she is satisfied with her football career, she would have liked the opportunities given to women footballers now.

She said that she experienced a generation of incredibly tough, strong, charismatic personalities that have led the game to where it is.

'I needed to live that personal journey'

Anita Asante
Asante played in Sweden for Goteborg and FC Rosengard following three years in the US

Asante was prepared for life as a professional footballer but moved to the United States and later Sweden to change her as a person.

Asante said that his time in America showed him that women could be fearless.

I believe in your talent. In English culture, we are more reserved about showing off or saying "I'm good enough."

It is positive to see women like that. Young girls and women need to see it. You need that arrogance to be competitive in sport.

When Asante moved to Sweden, she found the country to be stereotypical of American culture.

They don't deal with confrontation and are more reserved. They want to create a positive space. hierarchy was taken out of the culture I learned. She said that you don't have to have labels on people.

Anita Asante
Asante made 71 appearances for England during her career, and also represented Great Britain at the Olympics

Asante became passionate about taking part in marches because she believed in things other than football.

It made me a vocal ally and an activist. She said that it felt like everyone was pulling together to try to create a good environment.

I think my experiences in football and the people I have met along the way have made me more vocal with my opinions.

I am thankful for that. I needed to come out with my sexuality on my own. Even in the difficult points, it has given me strength every step of the way.

Asante was one of several England players who questioned the culture of the squad under former manager Mark Sampson, and she has been actively vocal on racial inequality and LGBTQ rights.

'I always played and lived the game'

Anita Asante
Asante joined Villa in 2020 and says part of her felt it would always be the final stage of her career

Despite current team-mates doing their best to convince her to stay, Asante decided to retire.

When you play at the highest level, there is a point where it is going to end. She said you have to be ready for that.

Football is a lot of work. You lose time with your family and friends. It takes a lot of mental and physical strength to have that consistency. Your bones are creaking a bit after you wake up.

I wanted to stop when I felt like I was in good shape for the things I want to do in the future. I feel very lucky that I have the ability to decide what I do.

How would Asante want people to think about her career?

I wanted people to enjoy watching me play because I wanted them to feel like I represented my family, my culture and the players who helped me on my journey.

Those are the kids I played with in the cages, the boys who didn't take it easy on me. They helped me to be where I am. I hope they feel I represent their ends when they contact me.

I want them to feel that I always carried myself with a sense of pride and humility, that I always played and lived the game and reflected my values.

One day, she hopes, she might be there again in a different role, as she will be in the WSL on Sunday as an opponent with Villa.

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