BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY Eniola "Eni" Aluko (born 21 February 1987) is a Nigerian-born, English football forward who plays for Chelsea Ladies of the FA WSL. Aluko moved with her family to Birmingham when she was one year old.[1] Since she grew up in England, she chose to represent England at international level.[2]
Club career
Birmingham City
Born in Lagos, Aluko started her career at Leafield Athletic Ladies.[3] She then went on to play for Birmingham City Ladies' youth team under manager Marcus Bignot and alongside future England team-mate, Karen Carney.[4] She scored on her Birmingham team debut against Leeds United, aged just 14.[5] In April 2002, 15-year-old Aluko played in the FA Women's Premier League Cup final, as a young Birmingham team lost 7–1 to professional Fulham.[6] Aluko's goalscoring during the following 2002–03 Premier League season led Bignot to declare her "the Wayne Rooney of women's football."[7]
Charlton Athletic
She left to join Charlton Athletic in January 2004,[8] and since then continued to show great promise. Pace is one of great her attributes and this was at the fore when she sprinted onto a through ball from Emma Coss to score the winning goal in the 2005 FA Women’s Cup Final at Upton Park.[9]
Aluko added to her growing reputation by scoring twice in Charlton's 2–1 victory over Arsenal in the 2006 FA Women's Premier League Cup final.
Chelsea
Following the withdrawal of support for the Charlton ladies team by the parent club,[10] Aluko joined Chelsea Ladies in July 2007.[11]
United States
In October 2008 Aluko's Women's Professional Soccer playing rights were obtained by St. Louis who named her as a post-draft discovery player. She was the team's leading goalscorer for their first season with six goals, and also led in assists with four, making her one of the main reasons Athletica was able to climb from a last place in the first two months of the season to a commanding second by the end. She missed the playoffs and the All-Star game due to national team duty.
When Saint Louis Athletica folded part way through the 2010 campaign, Aluko joined Atlanta Beat.[12] She was traded to Sky Blue FC in December 2010.[13]
Back to England
When WPS went into abeyance for the 2012 season, Aluko had already decided to return to England. She signed for Birmingham City, describing them as "more stable".[14] After a single season at Birmingham, where Aluko was a substitute in the 2012 FA Women's Cup Final, she signed for Chelsea in December 2012.[15]
International career
England
Although born in Nigeria, Aluko was called into the England set-up at the age of 14. She chose to remain loyal to the English coaches who had given her the opportunity to play international football, but said: "The main thing for me is for people to understand that choosing to play for England doesn't mean that I don't support Nigeria. I'm as much Nigerian as I'm British. Of course Nigeria means a lot to me, it's part of me, but I've been brought up by English coaches."[16]
Having represented England at Under-17 level,[17] Aluko scored on her debut at Under-19 level and appeared in the UEFA Under-19 European Championship Finals in Germany in July 2003 while aged only 16 years.[18] She later played at Under-21 level, before making her senior debut, aged 17, against the Netherlands in September 2004.[19] Her first senior goal came against the Czech Republic at Walsall in May 2005,[20] and she added two more in the 13–0 away win against Hungary that October.[21]
Aluko played in UEFA Women's Euro 2005, despite a clash with her A-Level studies.[22] She sat a history exam on the morning of England's 2–1 defeat to Denmark.[23] In the final group game against Sweden Aluko almost scored a bizarre equaliser, but was left disappointed as hosts England lost 1–0 and exited the competition.[24]
At the FIFA Women's World Cup 2007, Aluko featured in group games against Japan and Argentina, as well as the 3–0 quarter-final defeat to the United States.[25] After the tournament she was critical of FA and the level of financial support provided to England's top female players.[26] Aluko featured much more prominently at UEFA Women's Euro 2009, scoring in the group match win over Russia[27] and adding two more in the quarter-final victory over hosts Finland.[28] She also provided an assist for Kelly Smith's opening goal in the semi-final against the Netherlands.[29] In the final Aluko played on the left-wing as England lost out 6–2 to Germany in Helsinki.[30]
Aluko netted against Switzerland in September 2010 as England qualified for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2011.[31] During the final tournament, Aluko responded angrily to public criticism of her performance in the 1–1 draw with Mexico, in which she wasted multiple goalscoring opportunities.[32] She was substituted at half–time in the following group match against New Zealand,[33] and dropped to the bench for the final group match with Japan, playing the last half an hour of England's 2–0 win.[34] Aluko was an unused substitute as England were eliminated by France at the quarter final stage.[35]
International goals
- Scores and results list England's goal tally first.
Great Britain Olympic
Personal life
While playing for England during Women's Euro 2005, Aluko took her A levels at Cadbury College, Birmingham.[37] She subsequently went to study Law at Brunel University, where she graduated with a First class degree in 2008.[38] In July 2009 it was announced that Aluko would spend the 2009–10 US off-season studying for the New York bar exam before taking a similar exam in England, her aim being to have an entertainment law practice in both England and the United States.[1]
Her younger brother Sone plays for Hull City and was an England youth international, but in May 2009 accepted a call-up to represent Nigeria.[39] Her father is a former MP in Nigeria,[2] while Bolaji Aluko, a chemical engineering professor, is her uncle.[40]
As of November 2010, Eniola is an active contributor on , a popular culture website.[41]
Honours
Club
Birmingham
- FA Women's Super League
- Runner Up (2): 2011, 2012
- FA Women's Cup
- Winner (1): 2012
- FA WSL Cup
- Runner Up (2): 2011, 2012
- FA Women's Premier League Cup
- Runner Up (1): 2002
- FA Women's Young Player of the Year
- Winner (1): 2003
Charlton
- FA Women's Cup
- Winner (1): 2005
- FA Women's Premier League Cup
- Winner (1): 2006
Saint Louis Athletica
Country
England
- FIFA Women's World Cup
- Quarter-Finalist (2): 2007, 2011
- UEFA Women's European Championship
- Runner Up (1): 2009
Great Britain
- Summer Olympics
- Quarter-Finalist (1): 2012
- Quarter-Finalist (1): 2012
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