S1: Episode 5 - Steph Houghton

Steph Houghton Background

A role model in Women’s Football, Steph Houghton plays for England and Manchester City as a Defender. She is a true leader on and off the field, and has represented her country at every level, totalling more than 120 caps for England. Tune in to this fascinating chat where Steph opens up about her career, the pressures of becoming a captain at such a young age, and her recent ankle rehabilitation ahead of the Women’s Euros this summer.

How to be the best

“I’m a really consistent person. I stick to my values and my beliefs off the pitch. Obviously, my mantra on the pitch is to work as hard as I possibly can and give it everything. I think having those simple things in my mind every day, that helps a long way.”

“I think it's about reaching out and not being afraid to have those conversations, to say right okay, I want to be pushed, I want to get better.”

“I want to have no regrets when it comes to the end of my career and I’ve had that kind of attitude over the past 5-6 years.”

“That’s the only thing you can really control is your effort levels and commitment and professionalism.”

“A lot of the best players I’ve played for, and played against, relating to both men and female players, I look at them and they have routine, they have structure, they have things that they do everyday no matter what.”

“I think it is how you apply yourself in all those things. Even if it is a little bit of a warm-up or a cool down or a strength session, ultimately you can gain a lot and it might not seem like it at the time but it definitely helps.”

“What you put in, you get out.”

“It’s about the application and getting into a routine and being able to give everything you’ve got to give.”

Why the Wattbike?

“It is important as it allows your body to recover, your muscles to recover and allows you to go again. “Me and the Wattbike are best friends to be fair.”

“The Wattbike has been a god-send over the last few months.”

“There are always ways to do something else. I think people think when they’re injured that they don’t have to do anything but the way that I attack rehab is ‘what else can I improve on?’ My strength or my mobility or whatever it could be.”

What are your ambitions for the 2022 Euros

“I’m really confident and with the new coach coming in, we’ve played well in the qualifiers so far and we’ve got a squad that’s building and that’s getting better every single camp and we’ve got some really talented players and if we can all get together and be as strong as we possibly can, I think we’ve got a really good shot.”

“Of course it’s at home so we have that advantage of the fans backing us for a change.”“This country is going to host one of the best Euros, I really do believe that.”

“For me it’s exciting, as a footballer but also as a fan, to be able to watch them games and to see the quality of the games.”

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