A European champion and the Lionesses’ greatest ever goalscorer, Ellen White ends her career as a legend of the women’s game. Curiously, she has bowed out just one goal shy of Wayne Rooney’s unmatched tally for England.
The comparisons with Rooney, who scored 53 goals to White’s 52, will never satisfy some onlookers. They took place in entirely different spheres, and as the perennial detractors will be keen to point out, White’s tally began before the mass professionalisation of women’s football.
True – but here is what is indisputable. Only three players, regardless of their anatomy, have scored 50 goals for England: Rooney and Harry Kane for the men’s team, White for the women’s. She is statistically the Lionesses’ most prolific striker of all time, six goals clear of Kelly Smith and with eight more goals than Kerry Davis. Of the current squad, the only player with any hope of catching her as it stands is Beth Mead – still just 27-years-old – whose tally is 28.
What is also indisputable is that Rooney – and nobody doubts for a second that he is one of the most talented and influential forwards in the history of English football – had his own record boosted by goals against non-professional teams. Four came against a San Marino side who had up to eight amateur players in the ranks, and two against Andorra, who represent a nation with only a part-time league. Only five of his goals came at major tournaments.
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That is why she also retires with the fourth-highest number of assists in Women’s Super League history; she is behind only Arsenal’s Vivianne Miedema (74) for goals (61). She won two WSL titles and three FA Cups across spells with Arsenal and Manchester City, but now leaves the latter without seeing out her current contract.
“Her professionalism, work rate and finishing ability is world-class,” said England manager Sarina Wiegman. “I already knew she was a great player but I found an even better person.”
Baroness Sue Campbell, the FA’s director of women’s football, called her “a true leader of women – it has never been about Ellen White”.
Fittingly, despite starting every game at the Euros, the tournament coincided with a major breakthrough for her successor in Alessia Russo.
Ellen White honours
- England: European Championship (2022), Arnold Clark Cup (2022), SheBelieves Cup (2019), Cyprus Cup (2013)
- Man City: FA Cup (2020), League Cup (2022)
- Arsenal: WSL x2 (2011, 2012), FA Cup x2 (2011, 2013), League Cup (2011, 2012, 2013)
As White put it herself, she is now making way for the “next generation”.
“You don’t have to be the best at something to make your dreams come true, just look at me. Hard work, dedication, passion and love for what you do are a great recipe. Don’t ever let someone tell you ‘you can’t do something or achieve your dreams’. I was once told I couldn’t play for the boys’ team and I would never play for England. Now I am retiring having made 113 caps with 52 goals for England and a European champion.”
And if we are to talk about influence, how many boys who would otherwise never have kicked a ball took up football because of Rooney or Kane? The Manchester City forward is part of a unique Lionesses set-up who, within days of lifting the European Championship, set about campaigning for girls’ football to be added to the national curriculum.
In no way does it lessen what Rooney and Kane have done – but for that alone, White deserves to be talked about in the same breath as them.
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