Lianne Sanderson

Looking back at those who have helped shape the lives and careers of footballgirls top players.

This month Lianne enters her second season with the Philadephia Independence.
The English forward burst onto the scene as a goalscoring 16 year old with Arsenal ladies and has since shown an array of tricks, flicks and control that have been a bright light to our game.

Now 23 and coming off last season's run to the WPS final, the game expects Sanderson to make that next step to becoming one of the best players in the world...and when she does get there she can say thank you to ...

...Mr Sanderson
The story goes that a young Lianne told her father that she wanted to play with a local team. She kept going and he kept his weekends free to watch Lianne score goal after goal. A mainstay throughout her career and at all her games, he is and has been a big influence in not only her technical ability on the field but also the way she carries herself off it.

...Vik Akers
The father of Arsenal ladies had coached some good players in his time, especially forwards but he knew he had a real talent on his hands when he put a teenage Sanderson on late in the English Cup final. Live on tv she produced a fine display for someone so young, twisting, turning defenders and assisting her team mates. She went on to score a record goal haul before the age of 21 hitting the back of the net over 50 times.

..Hope Powell

The England coach had decisions to make. Out smarted and her team seriously out played by Silvia Neid's Germany, in the final of 2009's EURO England needed goals. Sanderson was brought onto the field with 8 minutes left marking yet another set-back in her international career.
Scoring over 30 goals then folowing that with over 40 was not enough for Powell to select Sanderson (even a Champions League win).

So Sanderson had to sit on the bench watching game time go to players such as Karen Carney, Jessica Clarke, Susi, Buet, Houghton and in her position Ellen White. All good players in her generation but far from the level of Sanderson. 2010 came and not even a big transfer to America could convince, so Sanderson retired from the national team aged just 22 vying to return for selection once Powell had left.

 

..Paul Riley

Philadelphia Indepence newly formed and back in the professional ranks. The club formerly known as the Charge remembered the last impact an English player had on the city in Smith.
It came as no surprise that Sanderson was selected by Riley in his first international player draft. Sanderson brought skill and football knowledge uncommon in the fast paced run and gun WPS league. Even though her minutes did not stack up earlier in the season she became a major factor for the team when it mattered.
Leading the team selflessly playing anywhere except her main position (behind the forwards), Sanderson led the Independence to the 2010 WPS final.