'Would mean everything' - Man United captain makes England admission after 'mad' summer decision

When Ella Toone fired England ahead in the European Championship final, there were few people inside Wembley more delighted than Maya Le Tissier.

The Manchester United captain - who, at the time, had just come off the back of a successful season with Brighton & Hove Albion - was watching the game from the stands. At that point, turning out for the Lionesses in a major tournament seemed a faraway prospect for the young defender, but still she was ecstatic to be witnessing a slice of history in the flesh.

“Me and my mate went and watched the game,” she reflects when asked about that momentous win over Germany. “We ended up being in with some of the FA staff and it was so special.

“I wasn’t even close to being a part of the England team then, but I knew I was signing for United that summer. I was watching Tooney and some of the other girls and thinking ‘they’re going to be my teammates!’ It was really special.”

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Fast forward to now and Le Tissier is one of the most highly-rated defenders in the Women’s Super League (WSL). Following Katie Zelem’s move to Angel City in the summer, the centre-back was handed the armband at United and now has four senior England caps under her belt.

“I’ve had to be quite patient,” she says of her international career to date. “I’ve been at most camps but missed out on the World Cup (in 2023). I’ve been close but not in there, so I’d really like to cement my spot and that comes with my performances.

“I’ve played a lot of games now so I don’t think there’s ever a question about my experience. I can