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The rise of women’s football serves to inspire and nurture future generations of players, coaches, and fans. We’re among those highlighting accessible and inclusive opportunities. How? By focusing on international players who have supported grassroots programs, academies, and initiatives that promote skill development.Ìý

All women’s football players are ambassadors for the sport. This ambassadorship comes into sharper focus on the professional stage globally. We’ve been recognising the successes and impact of players from football history such as Permi Jhooti,ÌýJane Törnqvist and Maribel Domínguez, who have represented their national teams in the UK, Sweden and Mexico respectively. It’s time to consider the legendary status of Chinese former forward Sun Wen.

Development of women’s football

Sun Wen started playing football aged 10. Her interest in the sport stemmed from her father, Sun Zonggao, who used to take a young Wen with him to watch the China’s men league play in various matches. This clearly had a big influence on her. She went on to join the Chinese women’s league in 1989 aged 16 and progressed rapidly to play for China’s national team at the age of 17.

The climate was right as this was around the time that China was making efforts to develop women’s football at various levels, a venture that’s still active today. Training programs, academies, and youth development structures have been established to grow young talent from the ground up. The Chinese Football Association is an investor in the promotion and participation of football among girls.

Wen’s career was an astute investment as her time as an international pro-player spanned the 1990s and early 2000s. It put positive representation of women’s football on the map from those early days. She’s seen as a key figure in nurturing women’s football in China. This was achieved through the success of her teams across various noteworthy competitions and tournaments. As a forward and attacking midfielder, Wen’s winning combination of speed, skill, and goal accuracy banked plenty of promotion for taking the sport seriously.

The great thing about Wen’s contribution to women’s football? It didn’t end with her retirement from professional football in 2006. A true ambassador, Wen’s involvement efforts panned out towards administration and passionate advocacy. Serving as the vice president of the Chinese Football Association, her support and promotion will continue for years to come.

Gold standard

Wen’s club career sets a golden example to others looking to succeed in women’s football. In addition to playing for Shanghai, she also moved to the United States where she played for the Atlanta Beat in the Women’s United Soccer Association (WUSA).

Wen was chosen first in the inaugural draft of the association, which stood out as the first professional paid league in women’s football history. While playing in the states, she became known for visiting fans of the Chinese team at their homes for dinner — making her a firm fan favourite.

Her international success can be traced back through the accolades she received for her performance on the pitch. Perhaps most notably, during the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup held in the United States, Wen came out on top as the lead scorer of the tournament when she netted an impressive seven goals for China. This total helped boost her team into the final against the USA.

For her achievement, Wen came away with the Golden Ball award for best player and the Silver Boot as the second-highest scorer. In total, Wen represented China at the 1999 World Cup, three additional FIFA Women’s World Cups (1991-2003), and two Olympic Games (1996 and 2000). It’s fair to say that her crowning achievements were her skills, leadership, and ability to catch the spotlight in any competition.

FIFA Hall of Fame

Wen is deserving of her place in the FIFA Hall of Fame, while also remaining humble and inspirational. In a recent interview, Wen said,

She is celebrated by fans, teammates, and commentators alike for the breadth of her achievements and for her contribution to women’s football. To this end, she first received the coveted FIFA’s Female of the Century award in 2000 and was later inducted into the FIFA Hall of Fame in 2007.

Now, she continues to inspire young athletes both in China and globally.

Ongoing talents

Wen retired from professional women’s football in 2006 after winning the Asian Cup for the final time. However, this wasn’t the end of what she had to offer.

In addition to her footballing career, Wen has worked in advertising, journalism, and education since studying Chinese literature at the University of Shanghai. More recently, she entered into football administration and became the vice-president of the Chinese Football Association.

Despite all the accolades, Sue Wen remains grounded and values the memories forged through teamwork, stadium atmosphere, and fan interactions.

Wen’s story is the fourth in a series of six blog posts spotlighting global individuals from women’s football history. As we celebrate the pioneers of women’s football from around the world, let us remember the importance of inclusivity, collaboration, and the global reach of the sport. By honouring the achievements of individuals like Permi Jhooti. Jane Törnqvist, Maribel Domínguez and Sun Wen, we recognise the rich talent and passion that exists within women’s football worldwide, emphasising its significance during the FIFA season and beyond. Discover the visual history of FIFA women’s football here. For more on Alamy’s 2023 #EmpowerHer campaign, read this.Ìý