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Anita Asante is a former England international footballer, Olympian and respected broadcaster whose career at the very top of the women’s game has made her one of football’s most influential voices on leadership, equality and resilience.
A commanding defensive midfielder and centre back, Anita earned 71 caps for England across an outstanding 14 year international career. During that time, she represented her country at two FIFA Women’s World Cups, three UEFA Women’s European Championships and proudly competed for Team GB at the London 2012 Olympic Games, where she kicked off the first ever women’s Olympic football match for Great Britain.
Anita’s club career was equally impressive. She began at Arsenal as a teenager and became part of the club’s legendary quadruple winning side, securing the UEFA Women’s Champions League, Premier League, Premier League Cup and FA Cup in a single historic season. Arsenal remain the only English women’s team to have won the Champions League.
Her career also included successful spells with Chelsea, where she won the Women’s Super League title and FA Women’s Continental Cup, alongside playing professionally in both the USA and Sweden, collecting further domestic honours along the way. Anita retired from professional football in 2022 following two successful seasons with Aston Villa.
Away from football, Anita has established herself as a highly respected media personality and commentator, working with the BBC, ITV and Sky Sports, while also contributing as a columnist for The Guardian.
Passionate about creating positive change, Anita is an ambassador for Show Racism the Red Card and Amnesty International UK. She is widely recognised as a leading advocate for equality and inclusion, using her platform to champion marginalised communities and promote greater gender, racial and LGBT+ equality across sport and society.
As a speaker, Anita brings honesty, warmth and insight to every event. Drawing on her experiences at the highest level of elite sport and in high pressure environments, she speaks powerfully on leadership, overcoming adversity, teamwork, diversity and inclusion, performing under pressure and challenging perceptions in traditionally male dominated spaces.
Anita Asante spoke at MAD//Fest 2019 and was inspirational, candid and engaging. Her background in professional sport added hugely to a discussion at a marketing event on daring to be different and breaking boundaries. The feedback on this session was amazing and I couldn’t recommend Anita enough!
Anita joined our final Festival of Football panel in July 2019 and was such a valuable participant. A passionate advocate for equality and anti-discrimination, Anita is an incredibly knowledgeable and eloquent speaker. Anita’s strength is in being able to articulate powerful and original thought in an accessible and engaging manner.
