Jenna Schillaci

Jenna Schillaci (born 21 March 1984) is an English former professional footballer. Primarily a defender, she played for and captained Tottenham Hotspur during their rise from the lower divisions to the FA Women's Super League.

Jenna Schillaci
Schillaci at White Hart Lane in 2017
Personal information
Date of birth (1984-03-21) 21 March 1984
Place of birth Enfield, England[1]
Height 160 cm (5 ft 3 in)[2]
Position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000–2001 Tottenham Hotspur
2001–2004 Queens Park Rangers
2004–2007 Langford
2007–2009 Enfield Town
2009–2020 Tottenham Hotspur
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 00:25, 31 September 2019 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 11:36, 14 September 2019 (UTC)

Club career

Schillaci is from the London Borough of Enfield in north London, England. She grew up in a family of Tottenham Hotspur F.C. supporters and played football with her brothers during her childhood.[3][4] As a 16-year-old she joined Tottenham Hotspur Ladies and immediately went into the first team, playing in the Greater London Women's Football League and FA Women's Cup.[5]

After one season, Schillaci left Tottenham Hotspur.[1] She moved to play for Queens Park Rangers and later Langford, then Enfield Town.[1][4] She returned to Tottenham in summer 2009.[6]

As a versatile utility player, Schillaci featured in midfield or at full back for Spurs.[2] After several seasons she successfully deputised as a central defender and remained permanently in the role after that.[3] She was particularly proud to captain Spurs to the 2016–17 FA Women's Premier League Southern Division title, secured by beating West Ham at her beloved White Hart Lane.[4]

In 2019 Schillaci was among 11 of Spurs' existing players to be offered a full-time professional contract to remain with the club following their promotion to the FA Women's Super League.[7] Reflecting on the progress made since her humble beginnings at the club, she described the development as: "amazing, a dream come true".[8]

Schillaci made her top division debut in Spurs' 1–0 defeat by Chelsea, played before 24,564 spectators at Stamford Bridge. After the match she told reporters: "We're not in this league to make up the numbers".[9] The 2019–20 FA WSL season was curtailed due to the coronavirus pandemic, and 36-year-old Schillaci announced her playing retirement in June 2020.[10]

References
  1. "11 Jenna Schillaci". Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  2. "Jenna Schillaci". Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Archived from the original on 5 December 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  3. Karimullah, Khalid (25 February 2018). "The Big Interview - Jenna Schillaci". Tottenham Hotspur F.C. Women. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  4. Turner, Kate (21 August 2018). "Player Post: Spurs Ladies' captain Jenna Schillaci". National Football Museum. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  5. "Tottenham Hotspur Ladies - First Team Season 2000-01". My Eyes Have Seen The Glory. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  6. "THLFC New Season New Start". My Eyes Have Seen The Glory. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  7. "Introducing our Tottenham Hotspur Women players". Tottenham Hotspur F.C. 5 July 2019. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  8. "Jenna's journey to the top flight". Tottenham Hotspur F.C. 7 September 2019. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  9. Rosser, Jack (9 September 2019). "Tottenham prove they are no pushovers despite Chelsea defeat - FA WSL news". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  10. "End of an era as Jenna Schillaci retires". Tottenham Hotspur F.C. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
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