One of the original superstars of women's football, Rachel Yankey enjoyed a prolific career as a left-winger for Arsenal, Laval Dynamites, Fulham, Birmingham, New Jersey Wildcats, Notts County and England. Capped 129 times for England, Yankey was, until 2014, the highest capped player in the nation's history.
Lavished with collective and individual accolades throughout a 20-year playing career, Yankey was awarded an OBE for services to football in 2014. Six-time winner of the FA Women's National Premier League, Yankey was, in her prime, the most famous footballer in England. She was at the forefront of the advertising campaigns for England, Team GB and would appear in a BBC Sport Academy Masterclass series teaching aspiring footballers skills. One of the first 17 female players to receive a central contract from the FA, Yankey became a prominent feature of English football and would even appear as part of Team GB for the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Many of her greatest successes would come in two spells at Arsenal. Having made her senior debut for the club in 1996 she appeared 47 times, scoring 8 goals in her opening spell. Highlights of her first spell included helping Arsenal to win the FA Women's Premier League, the FA Women's Premier League Cup twice and the FA Women's Cup twice. After a spell at Canadian side, Laval Dynamites, Yankey joined Fulham Ladies, helping the club to an impressive treble - finishing the year as the Nationwide International Player of the Year.
After a strong loan spell at New Jersey Wildcats, which saw the club win the UCL W-League in North America, Yankey rejoined Arsenal Ladies, arguably for her greatest spell yet. Scoring 43 times in 151 appearances in 11 years with the club between 2005-2016, Yankey was a key player as Arsenal won 22 trophies, becoming the dominant force in women's football. After retiring from the game in 2016, Yankey would get involved in coaching. She was named as a first-team coach of London Bees in 2018 and would coach the club's under 18s before she was appointed as Head Coach for the club in 2019. A wonderful football speaker who has been called upon to host events and work as a pundit in recent times, Yankey talks topics that include peak performance, teamwork and leadership, as well as recounts how incredible experiences at the highest level of the game.
How to hire Rachel Yankey
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Rachel Yankey for your next event, today. To get in touch, simply call an official booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
** We do not accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, birthday messages or any other non-commercial contact with the speakers or acts. Each speaker on the website may not have necessarily worked with Champions in the past but are known to perform such engagements within the industry.
Rachel Yankey is ideal for personal appearances, meet and greets, as well as speeches for schools and businesses. Here are some of her most compelling topics she can speak on:
- Peak performance
- Teamwork and motivation
- Leadership
- International football
- The rise of women's football
- Racism in football
- 2017 - Inducted in the English Football League Hall of Fame
- 2014 - Awarded an OBE
- 2013 - Became England's most capped player, surpassing Peter Shilton's record
- 2012 - Represented Team GB at the London Olympics
- 2007 - Won the UEFA Women's Cup
- 2005 - Won the Women's Soccer League Championship
- 2005 - Received an MBE
- Won five Women's Premier League Championships
- Won 11 FA Women's Cups
- Won seven Women's Premier League Cups
- Won two Women's Super Leagues
