Anita Asante is one of London’s most respected football voices — and her journey from grassroots to global stages began right here in the capital.
Recognised as one of the UK’s leading football speakers, Anita has inspired audiences with her powerful advocacy for equality, resilience, and cultural change in sport.
As a prominent voice among sports speakers, and a trailblazer within both female inspirational speakers and diversity & inclusion speakers, she continues to challenge the status quo and champion progress on and off the pitch.
In this exclusive interview, Anita reflects on her time with Arsenal during their historic quadruple-winning season, the inequalities she faced in the game, and why inclusion, representation, and empowerment remain central to her mission today.
Q: You were part of Arsenal’s historic quadruple-winning side in 2007 — how does that achievement rank among your proudest moments in football?
Anita Asante: “Oh, that’s a very good question. I’ve had a lot of moments in my career that I could definitely say I’m proud of.
“But winning the quadruple with Arsenal has to be up there, because I think we did something at a time when the game wasn’t fully behind us.
“We created history for our club and our country, and we did that collectively. That’s something that will live with me as a really positive memory for a lifetime.
“I’d also have to say, playing at a home Olympics in 2012 was something I didn’t even imagine to be possible. The fact that I was there and I got to kick off the tournament was an incredible feeling.”
Q: You’ve spoken openly about the emotional toll of being traded between clubs in the US. What did that period teach you about resilience and identity as a player?
Anita Asante: “For me, I think the toughest time I faced in my playing career was actually when I moved abroad for the very first time as a 21, 22-year-old to the American league, which was the first professional league I'd ever got a chance to play in.
“And having that transition—leaving your family, your friends for the first time—you know, I had to find a lot of inner confidence and self-independence and navigate my way through this transition.
“But ultimately, I think when I experienced being traded from club to club, which was not within my power—was within the club’s, you know, ability to just trade me on the spot to a different club and have to sort of uproot myself again and go through that transition multiple times—I would say was the most difficult.
“Because you have a lot of inner questions and self-doubt and a lot of the unknown, you know, quite repetitively. So you are wondering, you know, will the next coach appreciate my talent? Would they want me to play in the team? Will I get on with my teammates? Will I transition into my environment comfortably?
“All of those things, I think, were a challenge. But the fact that every time it happened—especially the first time it happened—I experienced it and I got through it, and I was like, I survived, you know? And then that becomes part of your resilience tool—your sort of resilience box, if you like.
“Every challenge you meet and you succumb, however big or small that success is, you just put it away in that kind of resilience box. And then, you know, you can sort of deal with any challenge that you're going to face in the future.”
Q: Women’s football has often been viewed as a more inclusive space — but how far has the wider sporting world really come in supporting LGBTQ+ representation?
Anita Asante: “In my experience, I would say I wouldn’t say sport as a whole is very inclusive.
“I would say that I’ve always found women’s football quite inclusive, especially in my early days. Lots of young girls and women from all different walks of life would, you know, naturally come together and build their own teams—whether that was from professional clubs or independently of their local areas.
“I still think there’s work to be done, and we can’t take it for granted and assume that we are just inclusive. We’ve got to be proactive in that space as well.
“In general, I think football can do a lot more to create those safe spaces—on the terraces, on the pitch, and within the inner structures of the game.
“The more that people are aware of those from the LGBTQ+ community working in football, the more it opens doors for others to feel that they can be part of this community and this space—and hopefully one day have a role within the game.”
Q: Despite progress, gender inequality still exists across sport. What practical steps would you like to see from those in leadership roles to help redress that balance?
Anita Asante: “Well, fundamentally, I think recognising athletes and opportunity as equal—giving young girls and young boys the same equal opportunities from the very base level—is key.
“That’s the grassroots level, you know, foundations within clubs. Giving the same level of resource and attention to it—sport will not naturally cultivate and thrive on its own. I believe if you give anyone that kind of space to feel empowered and show their ability, it can just grow.
“You also need people at the top—those who execute power—to be pulling in the same direction and recognise the equal value of both boys and girls, and obviously men and women, within different roles in sport.”
Q: You’ve become a powerful voice for equality in football. How did you find the confidence to speak publicly about injustice and representation in the game?
Anita Asante: “Like I’ve said before, it took a long time to discover that inner self-confidence and self-esteem.
“I think a lot of us can relate to the fact that you have opinions and you want to share your thoughts, but you don’t always have the confidence or feel that you have the space or the platform to do so.
“As my profile improved and increased within the sport, I recognised the power of sharing my opinions and thoughts through my platform.
“That’s just come with time—age, life experience, and also my journey in the game. Playing abroad, meeting other players, learning about the different challenges we all face—and lots of young girls and women alike, especially women from my background and others—can relate to that.
“So, I’ve felt it’s even more important to use my platform to speak up on things.”
This exclusive interview with Anita Asante was conducted by Chris Tompkins.