Eniola Aluko

Her 41st minute set-up for Ann-Marie Heatherson provided the winner in a 1–0 victory over Arsenal at Broadhall Way.

Eniola Aluko (born 21 February 1987) is a British-Nigerian football executive, football broadcaster and former professional player who played as a winger and striker.

City did win promotion as Northern Division champions to the Premier League National Division in 2001–02.

On 7 April 2002, 15-year-old Aluko played for Birmingham in the FA Women's Premier League Cup Final at Adams Park, as the young Birmingham team lost 7–1 to professional Fulham.

Her goalscoring during the following 2002–03 Premier League season led Bignot to declare her "the Wayne Rooney of women's football".

Aluko was named Young Player of the Year at The FA Women's Football Awards in 2003.

During the 2003–04 season, Aluko appeared as a second-half substitute when Charlton lost the FA Women's Cup final to Arsenal, 3–0 at Loftus Road in May.

Charlton also lost the Premier League National Division title to Arsenal on the last day of the season, having led the way for most of the season.

Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Aluko moved to Birmingham, England, at 6 months old and made 102 appearances for the England national team from 2004 to 2016 and competed at the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup in China, 2009 UEFA Women's Euro, 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany, 2013 UEFA Women's Euro, and 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada.

Aluko left Birmingham to join Charlton Athletic in January 2004.

She helped Charlton defeat Fulham 1–0 to win the FA Women's Premier League Cup at Underhill Stadium in March 2004.

Aluko lifted the FA Women's Community Shield with Charlton in August 2004 after helping the team win.

Pace was considered one of her attributes and this was evident when she sprinted onto a through ball from Emma Coss to score the winning goal in the 2005 FA Women's Cup Final at Upton Park.

Charlton beat Everton 1–0 in the Final.

Aluko also played in the 2005 FA Women's Community Shield (4–0 defeat at the National Hockey Stadium), the 2005 FA Women's Premier League Cup Final (3–0 defeat at Griffin Park), and the 2007 FA Women's Cup Final (4–1 defeat at the City Ground), All three defeats were inflicted by Arsenal.

She also won the London FA Women's Cup with Charlton twice, in 2005 and 2006.

Aluko scored two goals in the first half of Charlton's 2–1 victory over Arsenal in the 2006 FA Women's Premier League Cup Final at Adams Park.

Her assist to Katie Holtham in the second minute of the match gave Charlton the lead in the 2007 FA Women's Cup Final.

Following the withdrawal of support for the Charlton women's team by the parent club, Aluko joined Chelsea Ladies in July 2007.

In October 2008, Aluko's playing rights were obtained by St. Louis Athletica who named her as a post-draft discovery player.

She was the team's leading goal scorer during the league's inaugural season with six goals, and also led in assists with four, making her one of the main reasons Athletica was able to climb from a last place in the first two months of the season to a commanding second by the end.

She missed the playoffs and the All-Star match due to national team duty.

She played for Saint Louis Athletica, Atlanta Beat, and Sky Blue FC in the American Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) from 2009 to 2011.

When Saint Louis Athletica folded part way through the 2010 season, Aluko signed with Atlanta Beat.

She was later traded to Sky Blue FC in December 2010.

At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, she represented Great Britain.

Aluko previously played for Birmingham City, Charlton Athletic, and Chelsea in England's FA Women's Premier League.

After a short stint with Birmingham City in England's new top-division league, FA WSL, she signed with Chelsea, where she played from 2012 to 2018.

When the WPS went into abeyance for the 2012 season, Aluko had already decided to return to England.

She signed for Birmingham City, describing them as "more stable".

Aluko has been a regular broadcaster for live football on ITV, BT Sport, Amazon Prime and Fox Sports in the USA, including men's Premier League matches and Women's Super League since 2014.

Since 2014 she has also provided television commentary on football, including FIFA men's and women's World Cups.

Born in Lagos, Nigeria, to Gbenga and Sileola, Aluko moved with her family to Birmingham in the West Midlands region of England at the age of six months.

She grew up playing football with her brother Sone Aluko and his friends.

She also played other sports, including tennis.

Growing up, Aluko supported Manchester United.

Aluko started her career at Leafield Athletic Ladies and subsequently played for Birmingham City Ladies' youth team under manager Marcus Bignot with future England teammate, Karen Carney.

She scored on her Birmingham team debut against Leeds United, aged 14.

She was the first Sporting Director for Angel City FC of the American National women's soccer league and formerly held the position of Sporting Director at Aston Villa W.F.C. from January 2020 to June 2021.

Before retiring from professional football in January 2020, Aluko last played as a forward for Juventus.