Anita Asante

Anita Asante is a former England defensive midfielder/ centre back with 71 international caps under her belt, spanning 14 years, including competing for Great Britain at the 2012 Olympics.

The 35-year-old made her England debut in 2004, and she went on to compete in two Football World Cups and three UEFA European Championships. Anita also kicked off the first ever women’s Olympic football match for Team GB at the London Olympics in 2012.

Her showcase career began with Arsenal as a teenager; a club where she went on to be part of the historic quadruple winning Arsenal team who were crowned champions in the Champions League, Premier League, Premier League Cup and FA Cup all in one season. 

Anita has played top-flight club football for Chelsea, where she won the WSL title in 2020 and the FA Women’s Continental Cup, as well a successful stint playing football in the USA and Sweden where more domestic honours came. In 2022 she retired from professional football after two successful seasons with Aston Villa.

A new career in coaching beckoned with a season with Bristol City, where she was once again part of a championship winning team, before joining the FA’s England U23s Coaching set-up in 2023.

Away from the pitch, Anita has become a familiar face in the media, working  for the BBC, ITV and Sky Sports. She is also a columnist for the Guardian.

Anita is a passionate ambassador for Show Racism the Red Card, the UK’s anti-racism educational charity, and Amnesty International UK. She has become one of the game’s leading advocates and allies, championing marginalised communities and promoting the need for gender, racial and LGBT+ equality.

She is an excellent speaker and is well qualified to share her experiences. Whether it’s talking about leadership, overcoming adversity, diversity, equality or being a prominent figure in the challenging world of a male dominated sport, she has a story you want to hear.