Lianne Sanderson

Arsenal

Sanderson joined Arsenal in 1997 as part of their youth programme. Her first full season with the first team came in the 2003–2004 season, and she continued to play in the first team from then on. In the 2006 FA Women's Cup final, Sanderson scored the fifth goal of a 5–0 win over Leeds United, and was voted Player of the Match. Sanderson finished the 2006–07 season as Arsenal's top–scorer, with 40 goals scored in 41 appearances across four competitions, all of which were won by Arsenal. In the 2007–08 season, she amassed 51 goals in 36 appearances, including the third in Arsenal's 4–1 FA Women's Cup final triumph over Leeds United.

Chelsea

On 3 July 2008, Sanderson and Arsenal teammate Anita Asante joined Chelsea Ladies. Upon signing, Sanderson said: "I always said I would never play for anyone else other than Chelsea. I have been at Arsenal for 11 years and it is a big change for me to have to leave the team, but both Anita and I wanted a new challenge. Sometimes you have to try new things and challenge yourself personally and I know that is what I am looking forward to doing here. So now I am just looking forward to what's ahead. Hopefully Anita and I will come in and help Chelsea win things." Arsenal manager Vic Akers publicly criticised the players for the manner of their departure: "You think you've the respect of players, and then they do that. It's a sorry state of affairs."

Philadelphia Independence

Sanderson was drafted in the…

Sanderson has played for England at the Under-15, 17, 19 and 21 levels. On 3 May 2006, she was called up for the England first team. She hit the crossbar with a shot from 25 yards, shortly after coming off the bench for her debut against Hungary on 11 May 2006. She was drafted into the squad for the World Cup qualifying play-off against France in September 2006 as a replacement for the injured Jo Potter. She scored her first senior goal in England's 4–0 Euro 2009 qualifier win against Northern Ireland on 13 May 2007. It was her fifth cap. On 16 August 2010, Sanderson announced that she no longer wanted to be considered for England duty while manager Hope Powell was in charge, due to perceived unfair treatment by both the England hierarchy and Powell. Sanderson was not included in the England squad for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup or the Great Britain squad for the 2012 London Olympics, which was also selected by Powell. Sanderson continued to publicly criticise Powell's administration: "I felt the [England set-up] wanted people like robots who would literally do everything they asked you to do." After England's unexpectedly poor performance at UEFA Women's Euro 2013, Powell was sacked by The Football Association (FA). A report in The Guardian newspaper suggested that "the wheels first began to come off" when Sanderson left the team. When Katie Chapman withdrew from selection in 2011 after a dispute with disciplinarian Powell, England had lost two talented players, both to…

At the age of six, Sanderson started playing for a boys' team in South London. Her father, Jeff Sanderson, played for Crystal Palace. Sanderson says she begged her father to let her play on a team starting at the age of five years old. At nine years old, Sanderson signed for Arsenal.

Arsenal

FA Women's Premier League National Division: 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 FA Women's Cup: 2003–04, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08 FA Women's Premier League Cup: 2004–05, 2006–07 FA Women's Community Shield: 2004–05, 2005–06 UEFA Women's Cup: 2006–07 Juventus

Serie A: 2018–19 Coppa Italia: 2018–19 England

UEFA Women's Championship runner-up: 2009 Cyprus Cup: 2009, 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup third place: 2015