1971 Roma Name Sue Lopez | Years Team Role Footballer 1966–1971 Southampton W.F.C. Position Forward, Midfielder | |
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Date of birth (1945-09-01) 1 September 1945 (age 70) Books Women on the Ball: A Guide to Women's Football | ||
Place of birth Southampton, England Playing position | ||
Sue Lopez MBE (born 1 September 1945) is an English former international footballer. She spent her entire club career with Southampton, except for a season in Italy's Serie A with Roma in 1971. A leading advocate of the women's game in England, Lopez has also worked as a coach, administrator and writer since her retirement from playing.
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Playing career
At the age of 21, in 1966, Lopez made her debut for Southampton WFC. She was a regular in the side for almost twenty years until her retirement from playing in 1985. It was in the 1970s, when women's football was in its infancy, that Lopez and her Southampton dominated the Women's FA Cup.
Southampton, with Lopez's efforts, won the cup eight times between 1971 and 1983, appearing in eleven consecutive finals in that period. Lopez also won 22 caps as an England international, between 1973 and 1979.
Coaching
On retirement, in 1986, Lopez used her experience and knowledge of the game to coach women's football. This led to Lopez gaining the FA Advance Licence in 1991. In 1996 she gained the UEFA 'A' Licence conversion. Lopez was part-time manager of the Welsh national women's team in 1995–96. From then, until 2000 Lopez served as the Hampshire Football Association's Coaching and Development Officer.
Lopez was appointed director of women's football at Southampton FC in 2001. She took over managing the Southampton Saints first team as part of the role in 2003. In 2005 the Southampton male club were relegated and scrapped their women's setup to save money, making Lopez redundant in the process.
Club
National team
Recognition
In 2001 Lopez became The Sunday Times Sportswomen of the Year Coach of the Year. Lopez was awarded the MBE for services to women's football, in 2000. In 2004 Lopez was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame. She remains dedicated to improving the profile of the women' game in England.
Publications
In 1997 Lopez published Women on the Ball, a women's football handbook tracing the history and development of the game in England and abroad.