As the old adage goes, "Nobody wants to grow up to be a Gary Neville".
Jamie Carragher's now infamous swipe at his Monday Night Football co-star concisely reflected the historic lack of prestige that comes with being a right-back. But, as with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Reece James in the men's game, England and Barcelona star Lucy Bronze is revolutionising the role with her stellar displays for both club and country.
The 31-year-old added another piece of silverware to her trophy cabinet on Saturday as Barcelona triumphed over Wolfsburg in the UEFA Women's Champions League Final. It was Bronze's first time lifting the trophy with the Catalan giants, having joined the club from Manchester City last summer.
However, it was the fourth time just in six seasons Bronze had gone all the way in Europe's premier club competition, making her the most decorated English player of all time in the European Cup, alongside former Liverpool right-back Phil Neal.
With Bronze set to play a crucial part in the Lionesses' World Cup journey this summer, Mirror Football takes a look at her career so far and how she became one of the most decorated stars in the women's game.
Starting out
Bronze was born in Berwick-upon-Tweed in North East England and began playing football with her older brother. As a child, she joined the local boy's side Alnwick Town, where she was regarded as the best player on the team, before moving to North Carolina at the age of 17 to play for the Tar Heels women's soccer team.
After earning her first call-up for England's Under-17 squad, Bronze represented her country at various age group levels, winning the UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship.
In 2007, Bronze joined Sunderland - where she had spent time as a youth player - and was named Player of the Match in the Black Cats' FA Cup Final defeat to Arsenal. A two-year spell at Everton followed before Bronze joined city rivals, Liverpool, with whom she won back-to-back Women's Super League [WSL] titles.
Bronze made her debut for the England senior team in June 2013. The following year, she was awarded the PFA Women's Players' Player of the Year before signing for Manchester City.
Manchester City and England breakthrough
During Bronze's first stint at Manchester City - a club that she'd joined due to their unique resource equity with the men's team - she helped the club to their first WSL title. During that title-winning season, City went unbeaten, conceding just four league goals and winning the League Cup.
The following year, Bronze was named the PFA Women's Players' Player of the Year for a second time after playing a key role in City reaching the Champions League semi-finals. She also registered a goal and assist in the FA Cup Final, as the Blues triumphed over Birmingham City at Wembley.
On the international stage, Bronze represented England at the 2015 Women's World Cup, helping the Lionesses to a third-place finish. She also became the first women's footballer to be nominated for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award and was included in the UEFA Team of the Tournament at the 2017 EUROs.
Champions League glory
In August 2017, Bronze signed a three-year contract with Lyon, helping the French giants to win the Champions League and the Division 1 Feminine title in her first season.
The right-back played an integral role in Lyon achieving a domestic and European treble the following season and finished as runner-up for the Women's Ballon d'Or.
Bronze and Lyon won the inaugural Trophée des Championnes in 2019 and also won a third successive Champions League trophy. The 31-year-old returned to Manchester City in September 2020, having won nine trophies in just three seasons in France.
Bronze captained England for the first time at the 2018 SheBelieves Cup, where the Lionesses finished second, and helped Phil Neville's side to a fourth-placed finish at the 2019 World Cup.
City return and EURO 2022
In December 2020, Bronze won The Best FIFA Women's Player Award, becoming the first defender and the first English footballer to do so.
Her second spell at Manchester City was disrupted by injury and alleged tensions with manager Gareth Taylor, however, she still managed to pick up more silverware in the shape of the League Cup and the FA Cup.
Bronze wrote herself into England history in July 2022, starting each of England's six games at the Euros and scoring a goal in the semi-final win over Sweden. The Lionesses went on to win the tournament, defeating Germany in the Final at Wembley and yielding England's first major trophy since 1966.
Barcelona switch
Bronze joined Barcelona in the summer of 2022, alongside City and England teammate Keira Walsh. The duo played a crucial part in the Catalan giants securing the Liga F title and reaching the Champions League Final.
With England, Bronze won a second consecutive Arnold Clark Cup title and was named Player of the Match as the Lionesses beat Brazil on penalties in the first-ever Women's Finalissima.
The 31-year-old started for Barcelona in the Champions League Final, despite having spent a number of weeks on the sidelines while she recovered from knee surgery. After her mistake gifted Wolfsburg an early lead, Bronze put in a superb display to help Jonatan Giráldez's side come from two goals down to lift the trophy.
While the defender was already the only English woman to win more than one Champions League title, her latest triumph means she has now become the first English footballer in history to win the European Cup with two different foreign clubs.
Earlier this year, Bronze was also awarded an MBE for services to football.
What next?
In May, Bronze was named to the squad for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. It will be her third consecutive World Cup appearance, with the Lionesses among the favourites to go all the way at this summer's tournament.
