Sue Lopez

Sue Lopez, MBE (born 1 September 1945)[1] is an English former international footballer. She spent her entire club career with Southampton, except for a season in Italy's Serie A with Roma in 1971. A leading advocate of the women's game in England, Lopez has also worked as a coach, administrator and writer since her retirement from playing.

Sue Lopez
Personal information
Date of birth (1945-09-01) 1 September 1945
Place of birth Southampton, England
Position(s) Left winger / Forward
Youth career
Royex
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1966–1971 Southampton W.F.C.
1971 Roma
1971–1985 Southampton W.F.C.
National team
1969–1979 England 22
Teams managed
1995–1996 Wales
2003–2005 Southampton Saints
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 11:26, 18 February 2012 (UTC)

Playing career

At the age of 21, in 1966, Lopez made her debut for Southampton WFC. She was a regular in the side for almost twenty years until her retirement from playing in 1985. It was in the 1970s, when women's football was in its infancy, that Lopez and her Southampton dominated the Women's FA Cup.

Southampton, with Lopez's efforts, won the cup eight times between 1971 and 1983, appearing in eleven consecutive finals in that period. Lopez also won 22 caps as an England international, between 1973 and 1979.

Coaching

On retirement, in 1986, Lopez used her experience and knowledge of the game to coach women's football. This led to Lopez gaining the FA Advance Licence in 1991. In 1996 she gained the UEFA 'A' Licence conversion. Lopez was part-time manager of the Welsh national women's team in 1995–96. From then, until 2000 Lopez served as the Hampshire Football Association's Coaching and Development Officer.

Lopez was appointed director of women's football at Southampton FC in 2001. She took over managing the Southampton Saints first team as part of the role in 2003.[2] In 2005 the Southampton male club were relegated and scrapped their women's setup to save money, making Lopez redundant in the process.[3]

Honours

Club
Southampton W.F.C.

National team
England
Individual

Recognition

In 2001 Lopez became The Sunday Times Sportswomen of the Year Coach of the Year. Lopez was awarded the MBE for services to women's football, in 2000. In 2004 Lopez was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame. She remains dedicated to improving the profile of the women' game in England.

Publications

In 1997 Lopez published Women on the Ball, a women's football handbook tracing the history and development of the game in England and abroad.

References
  1. Sappino, Marco (2000). Dizionario Del Calcio Italiano (in Italian). Baldini&Castoldi. p. 680. ISBN 978-88-8089-862-7. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
  2. "Saints Alive And Kicking Once Again!". Women's Soccer Scene. 8 August 2003. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
  3. Leighton, Tony (8 May 2006). "Jilted Saints are spared the drop". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 31 December 2010.
  4. World cup 1970
  5. World cup 1971
  6. Top Scorer 1969

Further reading
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