Republic of Ireland captain and Arsenal footballer Katie McCabe said she was flattered when Ian Wright hailed her as his favourite Arsenal player - and the pair keep in touch now via Instagram DMs.
Katie said she never expected Wright to declare himself as a fan of hers on a podcast last November and revealed he often sends her supportive messages through social media.
Katie, 26, who made her 150th appearance for Arsenal this week, said Wright often sends her messages of support as does former footballer and assistant manager Robbie Keane and Ireland international Seamus Coleman.
She said: "Instagram is great nowadays to keep in contact with Wrighty. Having male allies like that is great.
"He's such a legend of the game and Wrighty is an Arsenal legend as well. It helps the women's game massively.
"When he is saying I'm his favourite player, it makes it that bit more sweet. It's great.
"Robbie Keane is a big supporter of the women's national league team. Having a legend like that supporting us is fantastic.
"Seamus Coleman will always drop a message to say good luck to the girls too.
"It's important that we support them and they support us. It's a good relationship."
Katie, who is a Dove Ambassador, and her 14-year-old sister Lauryn McCabe launched the second year of the Dove Self-Esteem Project in Ireland yesterday.
It aims to arm the next generation with the tools they need to grow up enjoying a positive relationship with the way they look after research found six in ten boys and nine in ten girls do not have high body self-esteem in Ireland.
70% of girls and 62% of boys in Ireland have opted out of things including extracurricular activities and key life events because of the way they have felt about their appearance.
And 73% of boys and 61% of girls believe there is too much pressure on young people to be perceived as good looking or beautiful.
Katie said: "We all feel self-conscious. For me, growing up, it was my legs.
"Being a footballer, I had an athletic body. I had bigger quads than everyone else. It was because I was kicking a ball six days a week.
"It wasn't until my teenage years when I started to reach regional teams or the international stage where I was around more people with figures like me.
"I started to realise that I wasn't different. It was just because of what I loved to do.
"My body was different to someone who didn't play football. I've grown to love who I am and love my body.
"They're now essentially my tools and help me make a living.
"Having a good support network around me, good friends and a big family with older sisters, helped me too."
Katie's sister Lauryn is also proving to be a fantastic footballer and recently secured her first cap for the under-15 national team.
Katie said: "Lauryn is just starting her career. She's 14.
"When I was 14, I started my international career. It's not a bother to her.
"I'm sure she'll be taking my place now in a few years. She is really driven and focussed on being a professional footballer.
"It's so great now that it's visible for young girls coming through to see that if you want to be a professional footballer, it's possible.
"Lauryn comes over to the Arsenal games and is able to meet the girls and ask questions.
"She asks world-class players questions that people would love to ask. She's looking and learning from them.
"I'm trying to teach her how important sleep and nutrition are. The quicker she gets ahead of that, the better it will be for her.
"I don't think she feels pressure. She doesn't have to prove anything to anyone.
"She just has to keep her head down and work hard. She has tunnel vision and nothing will take that away from her."
Katie also said she's hopeful that the women's game will continue to improve since the 2017 strike.
The Republic of Ireland captain said: "I was 19 at the time of the strike. For me, it was the bravery of those teammates, the older girls, who stepped up and were fighting for change.
"I know I have a responsibility to fulfil that with the role I have in the team now.
"The (men's team) pay cut last year wasn't about the money. It was more about parity and how we can have equal opportunities as our male counterparts, whether that is facilities or hotels or what kit we get.
"Those players that have left the game in a better place, it's down to them. It's up to us as the current generation to continue that for the next generation coming through.
"And since Vera (Pauw) has come in, there are more female staff around and she really tries to get women included in what we want to do with the national team.
"She's been great. On the football side of things, you can see how we're developing as a team which is most important. There's been a good balance."
To gain access to the tools or to register your school, check out our online learning hub https://www.dove.com/uk/dove-self-esteem-project.html
