Brighton's Kayleigh Green on the characters who have helped shape her career

March 02, 2022

In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports, Kayleigh Green talks through the characters who have shaped her football career, including Chelsea forward Pernille Harder, former Wales boss Jayne Ludlow, Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo, and more...

Ahead of Brighton's trip to Aston Villa in the WSL - live on Sky Sports on Saturday, kick-off 11.30am - Green talks about the key figures who have influenced her career so far, her toughest opponent and the player she would most like to play with.

The Wales international also reveals who has been her biggest inspiration in and out of the game before revealing the player she would most like to play alongside as we take a look at her career in characters...

The best player you've played with...

Kayleigh Green: "It's definitely Jessica Fishlock. She's an incredible, incredible player.

"For Wales, she plays as the number 10 and I am the number nine so we play very closely together and even watching her when she played in the WSL for Reading, she could find a pass from anywhere. She's so creative and I'm not being biased because she's Welsh. She is genuinely one of the best players and what she can do is phenomenal."

Your toughest opponent...

KG: "I will have to go with Pernille Harder. What she does on a pitch is unbelievable. Her movement off the ball is so good. She finds pockets of space and when she accelerates, no one can catch her. Her intelligence, her reading of the game as a footballer, it is second to none.

"If any young player can look up to anyone in the game, it would probably be Harder because of what she does off the ball as well as what she does on it. She's incredible."

If you could play alongside one player...

KG: "I'm going to go with this player only because I think throughout his journey of playing at Manchester United, I definitely looked at him as a role model. It has to be Cristiano Ronaldo.

"The age he is at the moment and the fact he is still playing after all he has achieved in the game, personally I feel I could learn a lot from him.

"I think it would be any childhood dream as well as any adult's dream to be honest to play alongside someone with so much talent."

The best manager you've worked under...

KG: "Two managers come to mind. I would say Jayne Ludlow because if it wasn't for her, I wouldn't be a centre forward right now. When I first met Jayne I was a centre-back. I was a centre-back for many, many years and it wasn't until she saw something in me, whether it was my spark or my energy, she gave me that opportunity and she helped me develop as an attacking player.

"So, I'd have to say Jayne for that, but if I am looking for someone who helps my strengths and pushes and challenges me, I'd have to say it is my current Wales boss Gemma Grainger. I feel she understands me as a player and she knows how to get the best out of me.

"So, it's Jayne in terms of where she's got me, but Gemma in terms of understanding my strengths and feeding those strengths."

Who have you learnt the most from?

KG: "Again, I'm going to have to have two people. I'm going to say my mum and dad.

"My dad has always been my rock within football. He's helped me a lot with challenges, how to overcome those challenges, never giving up. and pushing onto what I want to achieve. That's the person who I am right now.

"I would also say my mum because she has always been there through every single thing in my life. Times were tough with my mum growing up. We came from a council estate and from no money. The only thing she could show us was love so I have to say my mum from the personality side of things."

Your inspiration away from football...

KG: "To be honest, it was my dad. He has massively inspired me in every decision I have made. I don't want to break down and cry, but he has pushed me and he has put his arm around my should and supported me through every single decision.

"In life, I haven't made the best decisions. Some were great, some were bad, but he's always been there to support me.

"I'm a family type of girl. I could of looked up to someone in football my whole life. I could have started to be like them or play like them, but coming back to reality and the world we live in today I would say my parents have been my biggest influence.

"The background that we've come from, it wasn't easy from my mum and dad, but they gave us the best they could. They inspired me the to be the best that I could be and I think my career wouldn't be where it is if it wasn't for them."

And in football...

KG: "To be honest, there wasn't. it was always my dad.

"I can sit here and make up a name from within football, but the truth is my inspiration in this sport was my dad.

"He pushed me to be the best I could be."

Your best friend in football...

KG:" I'm going to upset some people now, aren't I?

"I would say Tasha Harding is one of my best friends, definitely. I always lean on her within football about anything.

"Like in any team sport, you aren't going to get on with everyone in the team, but the on thing you agree on is once you cross that line, you do it for everybody.

"So yes, you are going to have some best friends. Megan Connolly at Brighton, from the moment she walked through the door we've always been good friend and if I ever needed to lean on anyone at Brighton, it's definitely be her.

"She's sensible, she can calm me down and she can rationalise with me. But in the team environment, it's important you understand you aren't going to be friend with everyone, but once you are on that pitch you are all together."

Funniest player you've played with...

KG: "There are quite a few. Felicity Gibbons is definitely one. She is always laughing and joking.

"Aileen Whelan is the joker of the pack, even in training. She's always pranking people, scaring people and trying other people's clothes on. She really gets everyone going, just like Fliss.

"They have big personalities, but within our team I could roll off a number of different names. We have big personalities within our squad, and everyone brings something different."

Three celebrity guests you'd invite to a dinner party...

KG: "I'd definitely have to invite a comedian. I would also say I would need to have someone there who likes sport.

"This is a hard question. I feel under pressure!

"Right, I'm bringing Rita Ora because I'm a massive fan of her music. It would have to be an old school comedian in Lee Evans.

"The from the world of sport... no, I'm bringing Nessa from Gavin and Stacey. That'd be an entertaining dinner party!"

Watch Aston Villa Women vs Brighton Women live on Sky Sports Premier League from 11am on Saturday; kick-off 11.30am.

Rate this item
(0 votes)

HOW TO LISTEN

103.5 & 105.3FM

Online

Mobile Apps

Smart Speaker