Rachel Yankey

{{Short description|English footballer (born 1979)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Rachel Yankey
OBE

| image = London Bees v Tottenham Hotspur LFC, 10 February 2019 (03) (cropped) (cropped).jpg

| upright =

| caption = Yankey in 2019

| full_name = Rachel Aba Yankey{{cite web|url=http://www.thefa.com/~/media/files/pdf/thefa/playerregistrations/2012/registrations-list-february-2012.ashx|publisher=The Football Association|access-date=1 March 2014|title=List of Players under Written Contract Registered Between 01/02/2012 and 28/02/2012|archive-date=5 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305105008/http://www.thefa.com/~/media/files/pdf/thefa/playerregistrations/2012/registrations-list-february-2012.ashx|url-status=live}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1979|11|1|df=y}}

| birth_place = London, England

| height = {{height|ft=5|in=4}}{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=soc-wwc/2007/bio.aspx?pid=2067|title=#11 Rachel Yankey|publisher=The Sports Network|access-date=8 September 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604064412/http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=soc-wwc%2F2007%2Fbio.aspx%3Fpid%3D2067|archive-date=4 June 2011}}

| position = Winger, forward

| currentclub =

| youthyears1 = 1989–1996

| youthclubs1 = Mill Hill United

| years1 = 1996–2000

| clubs1 = Arsenal Ladies

| caps1 = 47

| goals1 = 8

| years2 = 2000

| clubs2 = → Laval Dynamites (loan)

| caps2 = 25

| goals2 = 10

| years3 = 2000–2004

| clubs3 = Fulham Ladies

| caps3 = 15

| goals3 = 6

| years4 = 2004–2005

| clubs4 = Birmingham Ladies

| caps4 = 13

| goals4 = 7

| years5 = 2005

| clubs5 = New Jersey Wildcats

| caps5 = 29

| goals5 = 5

| years6 = 2005–2016

| clubs6 = Arsenal Ladies

| caps6 = 151

| goals6 = 43

| years7 = 2016

| clubs7 = → Notts County Ladies (loan)

| caps7 = 5

| goals7 = 0

| totalcaps = 285

| totalgoals = 79

| nationalyears1 = 1997–2013

| nationalteam1 = England{{cite web |url=http://www.thefa.com/England/All-Teams/Players/Y/Rachel-Yankey |title=Rachel Yankey |access-date=14 September 2010 |work=Official website |publisher=The FA |archive-date=14 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151214161302/http://www.thefa.com/England/All-Teams/Players/Y/Rachel-Yankey |url-status=dead }}

| nationalcaps1 = 129

| nationalgoals1 = 19

| nationalyears2 = 2012

| nationalteam2 = Great Britain

| nationalcaps2 = 5

| nationalgoals2 = 0

| manageryears1 = 2019

| managerclubs1 = London Bees

}}

Rachel Aba Yankey {{post-nominals|country=GBR|OBE}} (born 1 November 1979) is a former English footballer who played as a winger or forward.

Yankey is best known for her long association with Arsenal Ladies, for whom she played 15 seasons over two separate spells, and is ranked among the Arsenal Ladies Legends. She is one of the most decorated players in women's football, winning the FA Women's National Premier League seven times, the FA WSL twice, the FA Women's Cup eleven times, the FA Women's Premier League Cup six times and the UEFA Women's Cup once, while playing for Arsenal and Fulham Ladies.

Since making her debut in 1997, Yankey appeared on 129 occasions for the England national team and at the time became the most capped player ever to play for England, ahead of male goalkeeper Peter Shilton with 125 (though this record has since been beaten by several female players). She was the second English female player, after Gillian Coultard, to make a century of international appearances. Yankey was part of the Great Britain squad for the 2012 London Olympics.

Yankey had a brief foray into coaching, managing the London Bees from February to May 2019.

Early life

Yankey began playing football as the only girl in a boys' team. Aged eight, she shaved her hair off, pretending to be a boy called "Ray" (an acronym of her birth names). She was able to play in the boys' team for two years before her real identity was discovered.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24108446|title=Rachel Yankey: England footballer keen to inspire next generation|publisher=BBC Sport|date=20 September 2013|access-date=21 September 2013|first=Jessica|last=Creighton|archive-date=21 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921004626/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24108446|url-status=live}}

Yankey joined Mill Hill United at youth level after the club's manager, Russell Mountford, attended an annual general meeting (AGM) at Yankey's boys' club.{{cite news|url=http://thiswomansword.com/athlete-profiles/an-interview-with-rachel-yankey-englands-most-capped-english-football-player-across-both-men-and-womens-football.html|title=An Interview With Rachel Yankey – England's Most Capped English Football Player Across Both Men and Women's Football|publisher=This Woman's Word|date=16 April 2014|access-date=20 April 2014|first=Danielle|last=Watson|archive-date=27 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140627114214/http://thiswomansword.com/athlete-profiles/an-interview-with-rachel-yankey-englands-most-capped-english-football-player-across-both-men-and-womens-football.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=https://www.uefa.com/womenschampionsleague/news/0212-0e156efad656-ec31554821a7-1000--the-making-of-arsenal-s-rachel-yankey/|title=The making of Arsenal's Rachel Yankey|publisher=UEFA|date=22 January 2014|access-date=20 April 2014|first=Paul|last=Saffer|location=London}} She also represented Brent in the London Youth Games as a youngster, and was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2011.

Club career

Yankey's senior playing career began at the age of 16, playing for Arsenal, when she spent a short time on loan with Laval Dynamites, a Canadian team, and then moved to Fulham in 2000.

File:Rachel Yankey2006.jpg

It was here that she was registered as the first professional female footballer in England. She joined Birmingham City before the 2004–05 season, and then, after being released from Birmingham, had a short spell with the New Jersey Wildcats of the W-League in the United States. Yankey, along with England teammate Rachel Unitt, played for the Wildcats for the last seven games of the season, and helped them win the W-League championship. She rejoined Arsenal for the 2005–06 season. In 2011, she helped Arsenal to another domestic treble.

In January 2014, Yankey signed a new two-year contract with Arsenal. She was praised by the club's general manager, Vic Akers: "She remains a key part of the team and her ability and experience will be invaluable in the season ahead." In December 2016, Yankey was released by Arsenal at the end of her contract.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25847460|title=Arsenal Ladies' Rachel Yankey signs new two-year deal|publisher=BBC Sport|date=22 January 2014|access-date=20 April 2014|archive-date=14 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140414134058/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25847460|url-status=live}}

International career

In August 1997, Yankey made her senior England debut, scoring in a 4–0 win over Scotland at Almondvale Stadium.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-england-excel-as-coultard-joins-club-1247174.html|title=England excel as Coultard joins club|work=The Independent|date=25 August 1997|access-date=17 June 2012|location=London|first=Susan|last=Sweet|archive-date=2 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200802081201/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-england-excel-as-coultard-joins-club-1247174.html|url-status=live}}

Yankey became arguably the most famous female footballer in England, having modelled new England kits, and appeared on the FA women's homepage header. She is also noted for appearing in the BBC's online BBC Sport 'Academy Masterclasses' mini-series, teaching young footballers basic soccer skills.{{cite web|url=http://www.freewebs.com/macacresswell4eva/englandwomen.htm|title=England women Fixtures and Results, 2004/05|publisher=Cresswell Wanderers FC|access-date=11 October 2010|archive-date=24 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024012842/http://www.freewebs.com/macacresswell4eva/englandwomen.htm|url-status=live}}

In May 2009, Yankey was one of the first 17 female players to be given central contracts by The Football Association.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/women/8050189.stm|title=England Women awarded contracts|publisher=BBC Sport|date=14 May 2009|access-date=29 July 2009|archive-date=17 May 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090517224951/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/women/8050189.stm|url-status=live}} However, in August 2009 she was surprisingly left out of coach Hope Powell's 22–player squad for Euro 2009{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/women/8184041.stm|title=England drop Yankey for Euro 2009|publisher=BBC Sport|first=Tony|last=Leighton|date=4 August 2009|access-date=10 August 2009}} with Powell believing that her form did not justify a call–up. Yankey was also overlooked for the 2011 Women's World Cup qualifiers against Malta and Turkey. But after a return to form with Arsenal Ladies, she was recalled by Powell for the 2010 Cyprus Cup,{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/women/8504524.stm|title=Arsenal's Rachel Yankey back in England's women squad|publisher=BBC Sport|first=Tony|last=Leighton|date=8 February 2010|access-date=9 February 2010|archive-date=11 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100211150539/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/women/8504524.stm|url-status=live}} and won her 90th and 91st caps – as a 76th-minute substitute for Jessica Clarke in a 1–0 win over South Africa and as a starter in a 1–0 defeat to Canada.

A return to form at both club and international level saw Yankey being selected regularly again by Powell, and on 29 July 2010, Yankey became the second Englishwoman after Gillian Coultard to earn 100 caps during a home World Cup qualifier against Turkey. Yankey, who was captain for the night, scored a goal and played the entire 90 minutes as England won 3–0.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/women/8869495.stm|title=England 3–0 Turkey|publisher=BBC Sport|first=Tony|last=Leighton|date=29 July 2010|access-date=30 July 2010|archive-date=30 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100730214031/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/women/8869495.stm|url-status=live}}

In a World Cup warm–up friendly against the United States, Yankey hit the second goal in England's 2–1 win at Brisbane Road.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/apr/02/england-usa-womens-football|title=England women warm up for World Cup with victory over USA|first=Tony|last=Leighton|date=2 April 2011|access-date=22 May 2011|work=The Guardian}} At the final tournament, Yankey netted in England's 2–0 group B win over Japan after coming on as a half–time substitute.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14038052.stm|title=Women's World Cup: England 2–0 Japan|publisher=BBC Sport|date=5 July 2011|first=Jonathan|last=Stevenson|access-date=10 July 2011}}

In June 2012, Yankey equalled Coultard's record of 119 appearances for England in a 4–0 win in Slovenia.{{cite news|url=http://www.arsenal.com/news/ladies-news/yankey-equals-england-ladies-caps-record|title=Yankey equals England Ladies caps record|publisher=Arsenal.com|date=22 June 2012|access-date=1 March 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305114657/http://www.arsenal.com/news/ladies-news/yankey-equals-england-ladies-caps-record|archive-date=5 March 2014}} She set a new record of 120 caps by playing in England's 3–0 win over Croatia at Bescot Stadium on 19 September 2012.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19616212|title=England women secure place at Euro 2013 with win over Croatia|publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation|date=19 September 2012|access-date=19 September 2012|first=Saj|last=Chowdhury|archive-date=19 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120919172843/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19616212|url-status=live}} In June 2013 Yankey played in a 1–1 friendly draw with Japan and broke Peter Shilton's all-time national record of 125 caps.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23051846|title=Rachel Yankey breaks Peter Shilton's 125 England caps|publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation|date=26 June 2013|access-date=20 April 2014|archive-date=15 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140315065324/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23051846|url-status=live}} She was included in the England squad which performed poorly at UEFA Women's Euro 2013 and was eliminated in the first round.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/sep/20/rachel-yankey-small-talk|title=Rachel Yankey: 'England need to prove Euro 2013 was a blip'|work=The Guardian|date=20 September 2013|access-date=20 April 2014|first=Georgina|last=Turner}}

Incoming England manager Mark Sampson left Yankey out of his first squad in December 2013.{{cite news|url=http://www1.skysports.com/news/12040/9079283/|title=No place for Rachel Yankey in Mark Sampson's England squad for La Manga|publisher=Sky Sports|date=18 December 2013|access-date=20 April 2014}} He stressed that "the door is firmly open" for her to come back in.{{cite news|url=http://www.shekicks.net/flog/blogs/post/897|title=Sampsonmeets the media|publisher=She Kicks|date=19 December 2013|access-date=20 April 2014|first=Catherine|last=Etoe|archive-date=21 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131221083447/http://www.shekicks.net/flog/blogs/post/897|url-status=live}}

She was allotted 126 when the FA announced their legacy numbers scheme to honour the 50th anniversary of England's inaugural international.{{cite web |title=England player legacy and results archive |url=https://www.englandfootball.com/england/womens-senior-team/Legacy?tab=Players |website=EnglandFootball}}{{Cite web |last=Lacey-Hatton |first=Jack |date=18 November 2022 |title=Lionesses introduce 'legacy numbers' for players past and present |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/lionesses-introduce-legacy-numbers-players-28529161 |access-date=19 June 2023 |website=mirror |language=en |archive-date=10 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240110000207/https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/lionesses-introduce-legacy-numbers-players-28529161 |url-status=live }}

File:Rachel Yankey 2012.jpg]]

In June 2012, Yankey was named in the 18–player Great Britain squad for the 2012 London Olympics.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18592483|title=Team GB women's squad for London 2012 announced|publisher=BBC Sport|date=26 June 2012|access-date=26 June 2012|archive-date=10 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120910233307/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18592483|url-status=live}}

Coaching career

Yankey was announced as a first team coach of London Bees in June 2018.{{cite web |last1=Frith |first1=Wilf |title=Rachel Yankey joins London Bees coaching team |url=https://shekicks.net/2018/06/29/rachel-yankey-joins-london-bees-coaching-team/ |website=She Kicks Women's Football Magazine |access-date=30 June 2018 |date=29 June 2018 |archive-date=29 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629143439/https://shekicks.net/2018/06/29/rachel-yankey-joins-london-bees-coaching-team/ |url-status=live }} Following the departure of Luke Swindlehurst in February 2019 to become head coach of Barnet's under-18s team, Yankey was appointed Head Coach.{{Cite web|url=http://www.londonbeeswsl.com/news/statement_rachel_yankey_named_head_coach.html#Zs6KX5IoAI5c6yVJ.97|title=Statement {{!}} Rachel Yankey named Head Coach|access-date=16 February 2019|archive-date=17 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190217030208/http://www.londonbeeswsl.com/news/statement_rachel_yankey_named_head_coach.html#Zs6KX5IoAI5c6yVJ.97|url-status=dead}} She left the club in May 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48217822|title=Rachel Yankey: England legend leaves role as London Bees head coach|date=9 May 2019|access-date=9 May 2019|publisher=BBC Sport}}

Personal life

When not playing, or practising, Yankey works as a coach in schools, teaching football to children.{{cite news |url=http://www.sportsister.com/2008/04/10/sportsister-meets-arsenal-and-england%E2%80%99s-kelly-smith-and-rachel-yankey/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110131115804/http://www.sportsister.com/2008/04/10/sportsister-meets-arsenal-and-england%E2%80%99s-kelly-smith-and-rachel-yankey/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=31 January 2011 |title=Sportsister meets Arsenal and England's Kelly Smith and Rachel Yankey |access-date=13 October 2010 |date=10 April 2008 |first=Louise |last=Hudson |publisher=Sports Sister }} This includes hosting a CBeebies programme, Footy Pups.{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/footypups | title=Footy Pups | access-date=25 June 2016 | date=14 May 2015 | archive-date=25 January 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190125131736/https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/footypups | url-status=live }} It was reported that Yankey's middle name came about as her mother was a fan of ABBA, the Swedish pop group.{{cite news | url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2005/06/11/women-s-football-yankey-we-ab-to-battle-on-115875-15618333 |title=WOMEN'S FOOTBALL: YANKEY: WE AB TO BATTLE ON |access-date=9 September 2009 |date=11 June 2005 |first=Sarah |last=Winterburn |department=News-Top stories |work=Daily Mirror|quote=Winger Rachel Abba Yankey that is, who has her mum to thank for the middle name given in 1979 when the Swedish group were the biggest band in the world.}} However in 2010, Yankey indicated that it was actually related to her Ghanaian heritage.{{cite news|url=http://www.umbro.com/en-gb/blog/rachel-yankey-a-ton-of-success-for-the-england-womens-star/|title=Rachel Yankey: a ton of success for the England women's star|access-date=5 August 2011|date=1 March 2014|first=Aron|last=Lavery|publisher=Umbro.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305045854/http://www.umbro.com/en-gb/blog/rachel-yankey-a-ton-of-success-for-the-england-womens-star/|archive-date=5 March 2014}}

Career statistics

:Scores and results list England's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Yankey goal.

class="wikitable sortable"

|+ List of international goals scored by Rachel Yankey

scope="col"|No.

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Venue

!scope="col"|Opponent

!scope="col"|Score

!scope="col"|Result

!scope="col"|Competition

style="text-align:center"|124 August 1997Almondvale Stadium, Livingston, Scotland{{fbw|SCO}}style="text-align:center"|4–0Friendly
style="text-align:center"|213 September 1998Câmpina, Romania{{fbw|ROM}}style="text-align:center"|4–11999 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
style="text-align:center"|328 November 2000Brisbane Road, London, England{{fbw|UKR}}style="text-align:center"|2–02001 UEFA Women's Championship qualification
style="text-align:center"|427 September 2001Auestadion, Kassel, Germany{{fbw|GER}}style="text-align:center"|1–32003 FIFA World Cup qualification
style="text-align:center"|54 September 2003Turf Moor, Burnley, England{{fbw|AUS}}style="text-align:center"|1–0Friendly
style="text-align:center"|6rowspan="2"|9 March 2005rowspan="2"|Faro, Portugalrowspan="2"|{{fbw|POR}}rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|4–0rowspan="2"|Algarve Cup
style="text-align:center"|7
style="text-align:center"|813 March 2005Estádio Fernando Cabrita, Lagos, Portugal{{fbw|MEX}}style="text-align:center"|5–0Algarve Cup
style="text-align:center"|927 October 2005Tapolca, Hungary{{fbw|HUN}}style="text-align:center"|13–02007 FIFA World Cup qualification
style="text-align:center"|1031 August 2006The Valley, London, England{{fbw|NED}}style="text-align:center"|4–02007 FIFA World Cup qualification
style="text-align:center"|118 March 2007National Hockey Stadium, Milton Keynes, England{{fbw|RUS}}style="text-align:center"|6–0Friendly
style="text-align:center"|1217 May 2007Roots Hall, Southend, England{{fbw|ISL}}style="text-align:center"|4–0Friendly
style="text-align:center"|1311 February 2009Larnaca, Cyprus{{fbw|FIN}}style="text-align:center"|4–1Friendly
style="text-align:center"|1429 July 2010Bescot Stadium, Walsall, England{{fbw|TUR}}style="text-align:center"|3–02011 FIFA World Cup qualification
style="text-align:center"|152 April 2011Brisbane Road, London, England{{fbw|USA}}style="text-align:center"|2–1Friendly
style="text-align:center"|165 July 2011Impuls Arena, Augsburg, Germany{{fbw|JPN}}style="text-align:center"|2–02011 FIFA Women's World Cup
style="text-align:center"|1717 September 2011Omladinski Stadium, Belgrade, Serbia{{fbw|SRB}}style="text-align:center"|2–2UEFA Women's Euro 2013 qualifying
style="text-align:center"|1822 September 2011County Ground, Swindon, England{{fbw|SLO}}style="text-align:center"|4–0UEFA Women's Euro 2013 qualifying
style="text-align:center"|1917 June 2012Salford City Stadium, England{{fbw|NED}}style="text-align:center"|1–0UEFA Women's Euro 2013 qualifying
style="text-align:center"|2013 March 2013GSZ Stadium, Larnaca, Cyprus{{fbw|CAN}}style="text-align:center"|1–02013 Cyprus Cup Final

Honours

File:RachelYankey.jpg

Arsenal

Fulham

New Jersey Wildcats

Individual

  • Nationwide International Player of the Year (2004–05) season
  • London Youth Games Hall of Famer (Class of 2011){{cite news |publisher=Camden New Journal |title=Arsenal Ladies Striker Rachel Yankey's Youth Games Hall of Fame honour |url=http://www.camdennewjournal.com/sports/2011/sep/arsenal-ladies-striker-rachel-yankeys-youth-games-hall-fame-honour |access-date=19 March 2012 |date=29 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111101042026/http://www.camdennewjournal.com/sports/2011/sep/arsenal-ladies-striker-rachel-yankeys-youth-games-hall-fame-honour |archive-date=1 November 2011}}
  • Women's Super League Hall of Fame: 2021{{Cite web |title=Rachel Yankey inducted into WSL Hall of Fame to mark 10-year anniversary of the league |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/36996/12427264/rachel-yankey-inducted-into-wsl-hall-of-fame-to-mark-10-year-anniversary-of-the-league |access-date=11 January 2023 |website=Sky Sports |language=en |archive-date=11 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111031553/https://www.skysports.com/football/news/36996/12427264/rachel-yankey-inducted-into-wsl-hall-of-fame-to-mark-10-year-anniversary-of-the-league |url-status=live }}

Yankey was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2006 New Year Honours{{cite news |publisher=BBC.co.uk |title=New Year's Honours |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/front_page/4570808.stm |access-date=4 November 2006 |date=31 December 2005 |archive-date=12 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111012040544/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/front_page/4570808.stm |url-status=live }} and Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2014 New Year Honours,{{London Gazette|issue=60728 |supp=y|page=15|date=31 December 2013}} both for services to football.

References

{{Reflist}}