A member of the Euros-winning Lionesses squad born in Kent has been made an MBE in the King's Birthday Honours List 2026.
Alessia Russo was one of six members of the England women's football squad who won the 2025 Euros to be included in the King's Birthday Honours List 2026 which was released last night (June 12).
Russo was born and raised in Maidstone and attended St Simon Stock Catholic School.
She first played competitive football aged six for West Farleigh Sports Club in the U7s boys' team.
Russo began her formal youth football career at Charlton Athletic's Centre of Excellence in 2007, aged eight, spending three years there before joining Chelsea's development squad.
In 2006, the year before she joined Charlton, she was a mascot for her future Manchester United manager Casey Stoney, who was then Charlton's captain.
She went on to captain Chelsea's development squad, making one senior appearance for Chelsea in the FA WSL Continental Cup in July 2016
After attending the University of North Carolina in the United States of America, Russo returned home and signed for Manchester United in September 2020, scoring 22 goals in 46 WSL appearances before joining Arsenal on a free transfer in July 2023.
Russo was part of both the Euros 2022 winning squad and the Euros 2025 winning squad.
Perhaps her most memorable moment in an England shirt came as a substitute when she scored a backheel nutmeg through the Sweden goalkeeper's legs in the semi-final of the 2022 tournament.
Russo earned her MBE officially "for services to Association Football".
The other Lionesses who received MBEs in the same list were Michelle Agyemang, Jess Carter, Hannah Hampton, Lauren James, and Chloe Kelly.
In February 2024, Russo returned to Bearsted Football Club in Maidstone - where she played as a child - to take a training session, and was awarded the Freedom of the Borough of Maidstone.
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