A New Era of Focus for Rachel Daly

Rachel Daly, the Aston Villa captain and former England international, has been a stalwart of women’s football for nearly two decades. With an impressive career spanning 19 seasons, including 84 caps for England and a World Cup final appearance in 2023, Daly has seen it all. However, her decision to retire from international football last year has brought a new sense of focus to her club career.

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When Daly took up golf a year ago, she never expected to reach a handicap of 19 so quickly. ‘I think that’s too generous, I was playing really well in the summer,’ she points out, before politely declaring that further questions about her pastimes are out of bounds. ‘I’m not that exciting, to be honest,’ Daly says with a laugh. ‘I walk the dogs, play golf. I don’t do a whole lot. I don’t lead a very exciting life.’

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However, Daly’s life is far from mundane. As one of the most experienced players in the Women’s Super League, she has a wealth of knowledge and experience to share with her younger teammates. ‘I’m the oldest in the team by a country mile,’ Daly says, ‘and a lot of the youngsters look up to me. It’s a nice feeling. It shows that they respect me and they value me, which is nice.’

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Daly’s role as captain at Aston Villa is not just about leadership, but also about mentoring and guiding the younger players. ‘I like to hear their experiences,’ she says. ‘It’s very different from when I was at their age, how I was experiencing football. They’re all very privileged where they’re at right now. When I was younger, we were paying to play, we were in men’s kits, the whole stereotypes and all that, but it’s true, that’s exactly what was happening.’

As Daly prepares for her fifth season at Villa, she is determined to help the team improve on last season’s ninth place. ‘We weren’t happy with the way we finished,’ she says, recalling Villa’s run of four straight defeats at the end of the campaign. ‘There’s no denying that it’s the best league in the world for a reason and it’s not just us that are investing. There are a lot of clubs investing. We need to improve on where we finished last year.’

The WSL is entering a new phase of its development, with two extra teams entering the league this season. ‘It excites me,’ Daly says. ‘The league has been kind of at a steady place for quite a while but we need growth, we need change, we need to have more teams in the league, we need to expand. And I think it came at a really good time. There’s no downside to it. More games means more fun.’

Aston Villa’s first two games of the campaign look tricky, with away trips to Chelsea and Manchester City. ‘Yes, September will be tough, starting against Chelsea and City is not an easy feat,’ Daly says. ‘It’ll be a good test for us. We’re in a good spot so it will be interesting to see how that month goes, but I back us all the time.’

Building on Last Season’s Progress

Daly is determined to help Villa improve on last season’s ninth place, and she believes that the team has the talent and the depth to do so. ‘We’ve got a lot of young players who are eager to learn and improve, and I think that’s really exciting,’ she says. ‘We’ve also got a lot of experienced players who are bringing a lot of knowledge and experience to the table.’

A New Era of Football

The WSL is entering a new phase of its development, with two extra teams entering the league this season. ‘It’s a really exciting time for women’s football,’ Daly says. ‘We’re seeing more and more investment in the league, and we’re seeing more and more growth. It’s a really positive time for the sport.’

A Captain’s Perspective

Daly’s role as captain at Aston Villa is not just about leadership, but also about mentoring and guiding the younger players. ‘I like to hear their experiences,’ she says. ‘It’s very different from when I was at their age, how I was experiencing football. They’re all very privileged where they’re at right now.’

A New Focus

Daly’s decision to retire from international football last year has brought a new sense of focus to her club career. ‘For club football, it’s given me more of a focus: ‘That’s my one job’, Daly says. ‘Recovery-wise, obviously, I’m not getting any younger, so it gave me more time, I got my international breaks back. It’s about spending time with my family.’

A New Era of Focus

Daly’s new focus on her club career has brought a new sense of energy and enthusiasm to her game. ‘I feel fresher,’ she says. ‘It’s taxing on your body being away for 10 days every month. Getting that time back and mentally just resetting – the most positive thing I’ve felt is just being able to breathe and get that time back with my family.’

A New Era for Women’s Football

The WSL is entering a new phase of its development, with two extra teams entering the league this season. ‘It’s a really exciting time for women’s football,’ Daly says. ‘We’re seeing more and more investment in the league, and we’re seeing more and more growth. It’s a really positive time for the sport.’

Conclusion

Rachel Daly is a true legend of women’s football, and her new focus on her club career is bringing a new sense of energy and enthusiasm to her game. With her experience and knowledge, she is helping to guide the younger players at Aston Villa, and she is determined to help the team improve on last season’s ninth place. The WSL is entering a new phase of its development, and Daly is excited to be a part of it.