Lionesses World Cup star Alessia Russo is daughter of Met Police FC's record scorer
Posted Saturday, August 19, 2023 by Dailystar.co.uk
Alessia Russo has followed in her father's footsteps to become a key part of the Arsenal and England set-ups after growing up in a football-obsessed family
Alessio Russo has scored three goals at the World Cup so far (Image: Nigel Keene/ProSports/REX/Shutterstock)
England forward Alessia Russo has been on top form at the Women's World Cup - but she's not the first goal-grabbing star in her family.
The 24-year-old has followed in the footsteps of her dad Mario, a former copper who played non-league football for Metropolitan Police FC. During his near 18-year spell with the club he established himself as their record goalscorer, a record he holds to this day.
Alessia has gone on to surpass his achievements, joining the family's beloved Manchester United in 2020 and topping their scoring charts for two successive seasons before moving to Arsenal this summer.
Her club form saw her break into the England squad and she's now a fully-fledged international superstar. She set an international record by bagging an 11-minute hattrick in a 20-0 World Cup qualifier win over Latvia last November, and her goal against Sweden at last year's Euros was voted goal of the tournament and was later nominated for the Puskas award.
Russo has started every single one of the Lionesses' World Cup matches this summer and is the team's joint-top scorer, alongside Laurens James and Hemp, with three goals to her name - the latest of which being her victory-sealing strike against Australia in the semi-final on Wednesday.
Alessia's dad Mario is Met Police FC's record goalscorer (Image: Instagram/alessiarusso99)
She's a shoo-in to start against Spain, where she'll have the opportunity to fulfil her destiny - to the surprise of absolutely no one in her family.
"Alessia had no option but to play football - it was non-negotiable," her father told Our Game Mag in 2017. “She was used as the goalkeeper, the defender, the player to get nutmegged, the player to get two-footed.”
Mario first took her along to the local team he was coaching but then moved her on to a more advanced boys team, which prompted "strange looks" from the other parents.
They soon understood why, though, as Alessia starred for Bearsted FC. It lead to a break at Charlton Athletic before she joined Chelsea.
After a short spell at Brighton, Alessia moved to the US to play college soccer, a decision which provided her with the launch pad for her career. Meanwhile, Luca went on to focus on track and field while Giorgio has also played non-league football for several Kent-based sides.
The whole family will be watching on as England look to make history by winning the World Cup, and if they do, you can bet Russo will be a major reason why.
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