Katie Zelem on captaincy, Casey Stoney and catching United’s rivals
Photography: Martin Rickett/PA Wire/PA Images
"When I was little, I didn’t even think Manchester United would have a first team, let alone facing our rivals at the Etihad Stadium in front of over 30,000 people in a derby. And when I first sat down with Casey [Stoney] and spoke about the captaincy, I rang my dad soon after and he was like, ‘I don’t know what to say’. Dad talks more than me, so for him to be speechless says it all about what it means to my family. They’re all proud, and I’m so honoured that Casey has seen the qualities in me to select me as captain.
"I’m quite a vocal captain, and that’s the way I’ve been since I was small. You’re never going to shut me up! I’d like to think I’m quite honest. If something needs to be said then often the best thing is to just say it, there’s no point letting things linger. Me and Case [Stoney] have really honest and open conversations, from whether she thinks her team needs work, to whether I think there’s something that can help the players a bit more. She’s really willing to take that advice on board. The girls really respect her, and they want to hear everything she’s got to say.
"I have a lot more roles and responsibilities since becoming skipper. I didn't really realise how many there were. The girls obviously look to me a bit more now just like I would if someone else was the captain, especially the younger players if they want advice. Maybe it’s better to come to another player rather than a coach? I’m quite loud as it is so that will never change whether I’m the captain or not, that’s probably one of the reasons that Casey went with me to be honest. I don’t feel like I should change now she’s selected me as captain, though, I just need to be myself.
"I think I’m probably one of the only people that would dare to challenge Casey. Sometimes I get dirty looks [from her] but I’ve learned to handle it. But Casey’s a new coach and she wants people to challenge her because she wants to become better. It’s good that we’re able to discuss things so openly.
"Casey is the first person here and the last person to leave. Whether we’re playing Arsenal, or we’re playing a friendly, she prepares the same for every game and, don’t just ask me, ask anyone, she works too hard. She never leaves. She gives everything to this team to make sure we’re the most prepared we can be. She doesn’t ever want to let us down.
"For me, Casey’s one of the best managers I’ve worked under. She’s recently retired and she has a better understanding because of that. She deals with little things off the pitch so well because she’s been there herself. She takes on a lot of work herself, but she’s a good manager and a good coach and you really don’t find that very often.
Photography: Andrew Yates/Sportimage/PA Images
"Having a female coach is pushing the women’s game in the right direction. We want to improve the standard of the game. We want to improve the referees, the coaches, and Casey is the perfect example of that. I don’t think Man United picked her merely because she was female. She was the best candidate to pick, and I think they made the right choice.
"By starting in the second division, this club was able to build a solid foundation. Casey was able to get the players she wanted and make the team her own. I think if we had come straight into the top league we would have faced a lot of pressure [to win games] and that wasn’t really what it was about to begin with. It was about building a team and a foundation to come into this league and now you can see how well that’s worked out.
"It's a really positive experience to now be playing in the WSL. Some of my friends who maybe haven’t seen much about women’s football in the past are always messaging me saying, ‘Katie, we’ve seen this on TV’, and that’s so refreshing to hear; people have worked hard behind the scenes and we’re finally getting recognition and it’s not just our team, but the sport as a whole. You can see the attendance has risen since the World Cup and playing at the men’s stadiums will only continue to push it forward.
Words: Clare Bloomfield
First published 30 October 2019