Hannah Hampton: My Favourite England XI

6 Jul 2024

Published 05 July 2024 5 min read

England Women's Senior Team

The Lionesses goalkeeper picks out her ultimate national team side from players past and present

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Hannah Hampton is the latest England international to take on our Favourite XI feature.

The Lionesses goalkeeper selects numerous legends from the past as well as a current player she has a close affinity with.

Here are the players she has selected.

Goalkeeper: Carly Telford

Carly's all-round game was so good. There were aspects of her game I really liked and I could see myself in her in terms of the type of goalkeeper I wanted to be. 

Carly Telford celebrates during the 2019 World Cup semi-final against USA

Right centre-back: Bobby Moore

You can't go wrong with Bobby Moore, he's a legend of the game. I'm gutted that I never got to watch him but my parents speak about how amazing he was. Nobody else has lifted the World Cup for the senior team so he is a one-off.

Centre-back: Steph Houghton

Steph changed the women's game and captained the country for such a long time. She helped take the game forward, closed the gap, she did a lot for women's health and she ensured the girls are more recognised. I remember my very first camp and she welcomed me in.

Left centre-back: Ashley Cole

He was the best left-back in the world for a while so he has to be in my team.

04 Jun 2024 5:53

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Right midfield: David Beckham

I have to have Beckham in there, he was the England player I was watching when I was growing up. He was a free-kick specialist and we could see how he brought the whole country together with football.

Centre midfield: Bobby Charlton

Another legend of the game and someone I also wish I'd watched more of. I've obviously watched footage back and seen why people have such big respect for him.

Centre midfield: Jude Bellingham

Jude is from Birmingham like me. It's nice having someone come through the ranks from the Midlands and I was at the club at the same time as him. We had a photo together when I think he was about 16 and I was 17. Who would have thought we would both go on to play for England? It's great to see all the success that Jude's getting, it's special for someone from our area.

Left midfield: Jill Scott

She may not be happy on the left but I need to have Jill in my team. She was a great teammate.

Ellen White and Hannah Hampton celebrate England's EURO 2022 triumph

Striker: Ellen White

Ellen was someone who looked out for me from day dot when I was at Birmingham. That will always mean a lot to me. Being part of her success and the accolades she's got has been unbelievable. If I get half the number I'll be happy.

Striker: Ian Wright

Obviously when he played he was unbelievable but I think everything he's done since playing has also been such a help in terms of the growth of the women's game. Having male footballers acknowledge the women's side and help it grow means so much to us. You can see what an affect he had.

Striker: Alan Shearer

I always think of the iconic celebration. The goals he scored for club and country and the games he helped England win. I was a striker when I was younger and all my dad would go on about is Shearer. I remember I was playing at Villarreal and I scored a goal and I did his celebration.

Honourable mentions

I have to say Kelly Smith, such a big influence on women's football.

Gordon Banks as a World Cup-winning goalkeeper and also Wayne Rooney as an inspirational England international.

John Terry was class, too, and I share the same birthday as Paul Scholes so I should say him.

Maya Le Tissier's Favourite England XI

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