by Maisie Mcnulty (24/3/24)
Above: Millie Bright with the Chelsea captain’s armband for 2023/24. Photo: Chelsea Women.
Impetus takes a look at how Millie has brightened up her team and what she brings to the pitch, as well as looking at some of her top moments so far.
After 250 appearances for Chelsea, Millie Bright never fails to progress more and bring a certain energy to the squad. Bright is frequently referred to as a “defensive pillar” due to her exceptional defensive abilities. Because of her physical stature, she can pose a serious threat in the opposition’s box. She analyses the game effectively and frequently initiates attacks with sweeping passes from the back and as well as her ferocious tackles.
With excellent interplay and link-ups with Katie Chapman, Bright quickly established herself as one of the league’s most physically intimidating midfielders in her debut season at Chelsea. And by the time her first season as a blue was over, she had made her Champions League debut, won two titles (the Women’s FA Cup and the Women’s Super League), and made 26 appearances.
Ahead of the signing of Millie Bright in December 2014, general manager Paul Green said “she will add strength and physicality to the squad”, which she did. The strong performances and physicality that Millie Bright brought to the club did not go unnoticed, as she was named the 2015 Chelsea Players’ Player of the year by her fellow blues.
Bright grew in strength during her second season with Chelsea, starting all 15 league games, more than any other player. During this season, she began to experiment with and excel in a number of positions, including centre-half, full-back, and her usual midfield position. Her form was nothing short of consistent, as evidenced by her retention of the Chelsea Players’ Player of the Year and the title for Young Player of the Year.
At the start of the 2017 campaign, Bright signed a new three-and-a-half year contract which set the start of a sublime year for her. Bright began to start in defence and was a key part of Chelsea’s defensive line leading to the Blues to concede just five goals throughout all competitions, as well as establishing herself as a threat on set-pieces, scoring two. With just one loss on the season, Bright was able to add another trophy to her cabinet.
Yet again for the 2017/2018 season, Millie Bright started more than any other of the blues with 33 starts throughout all competitions. Chelsea had the greatest defensive record in the top flight of women’s football in England thanks to Millie Bright’s defensive prowess, allowing in just 13 goals.
One of Millie Bright’s best moments of the 2017/2018 season came when she scored a crucial, superb goal in a 2-2 draw against Manchester City, who were the title contenders at the time. By the end of the season, Millie Bright once again assisted her team in winning not one, but two pieces of silverware: the WSL and the FA Cup.
The Chelsea defender’s form was so excellent she nominated for the PFA Women’s Player of the Year award as well as grabbing a well-deserved spot in the Team of the Year.
In the 2018/2019 season, Bright was named as the vice-captain behind Chelsea legend Kaz Carney. The vice-captain helped the Blues to kickstart their Champions League campaign by a spectacular 30-yard strike against SFK 2000 Sarajevo, one of two goals she scored that season.
As well as winning the WSL in the 2019/2020 season, the defender won her first Continental League Cup final after a 2-1 victory against Arsenal. After excellent performances in the back, even being named the November Player of the Month, Bright was named in the PFA’s Team of the Year for a second consecutive year.
Bright signed a contract extension ahead of the 2020/2021 campaign, committing herself to the “Pride of London” until 2023. She opened up the season with a magnificent long range strike against Manchester City in the Community Shield, a goal that displayed her love and commitment for the club.
The 2020/2021 season was the start of a strong partnership at the back between Bright and Eriksson, helping Chelsea retain two domestic titles. Throughout all competitions they kept an astonishing 25 clean sheets. Millie Bright’s defensive plays and link-ups in the team helped Chelsea women to reach their first Champions League final which they ultimately lost 4-0 to a firing Barcelona. Her outstanding play earned her her first selection in the 2020 FIFA FIFPro Women’s World 11.
Without Eriksson for 16 of the 39 games played in Chelsea’s 2021–2022 campaign, Millie Bright inherited the captaincy duties, leading to another trophy-filled season. The hard-work over this season for the Bright will lead to a space in the history books for chelsea women as she became the third player in the squad to reach 200 appearances aswell as being the sole player to have made 200 starts.
The honours for Millie Bright poured in during this season, portraying her well-respected status in football. As for the second consecutive year in a row she was selected for a spot in the FIFPro Women’s World 11 after putting on a defensive masterclass to the World. Within the 2021/22 season two more trophies were added to the cabinet with another FA Cup and WSL title win, which earned her way into the PFA’s Team of the year for a third time.
As Chelsea Women qualified for the Champions League in their 2022/23 campaign, Bright set the stage in the first group stage fixture. After a flying cross in from Erin Cuthbert she slammed the ball into the back of the net with a magnificent volley which won Chelsea the game against PSG.
Millie Bright continued her outstanding performances since their Champions league opener, however unfortunately a knee injury in the first leg of the quarter final to lyon which took place in March meant that her season was to be cut short. However this didn’t stop her leadership skills from helping the team behind the sidelines to claim the WSL title for a fourth consecutive year and their third straight FA Cup.
Following her success from the 2022/23 season, Millie Bright was amongst the world best female footballers in the Women’s Ballon d’Or, where she was placed in 11th.
Ahead of the 2023/24 campaign Millie Bright was announced as the new Chelsea captain, after the departure of Magdalena Eriksson. One month into the season, the loyal blue made her 250th appearance for Chelsea women and put on a show by scoring in a thrashing 6-0 win against Aston Villa helping her team to stay top of the league.
With some important matches and challenges approaching Chelsea such as the FA Cup and Champions league semi-finals and a tight title race battle within the Barclays WSL; the return of Millie Bright couldn’t come quicker for the Blues and their supporters.
Millie Bright’s Top Moments for Chelsea
One of Millie Bright’s first key moments after signing for the club was after lifting up her first FA Cup silverware. Whilst standing in front of thousands of supporters at wembley, she was able to reflect on the brilliant season that she had and was ‘able to get a real understanding of the club she was at and the expectations they stood for.’
For the new blue this was the first time lifting any major piece of silverware and playing in such a big environment (Wembley). Emma Hayes gave the first of many motivational speeches to Millie Bright this day as she reassured her to ‘stay focused and to keep her eyes forward’ which at this time was the best thing she could have heard. As Bright said in an interview ‘this was just the start of a long journey ahead’.
Another magical moment for the blue in her career at chelsea, was making history by reaching the Club’s first Champions League Final. Although it is such a bittersweet moment due to losing against Barcelona women it is also a moment to remember as in this year both the Chelsea Men and Womens team reach the final.
3 years on, Millie Bright admits she is only starting to pick up her runners-up medal and realise how much of an accolade it is and being able to think about it without the emotions flooding back. However its just another reason which encourages the defender to keep progressing so that they are able to reach that point again and finally fill the missing space within Chelsea’s Trophy Cabinet.
After giving nine years of her life to the club, the captains armband was not just handed down to Millie Bright but was well and truly earnt by her hard work and loyalty to the club in which she now calls her home. Like a true leader, the captain of the blues said that no matter with or without the armband she will always give her absolute best when she steps out onto the pitch and her main aim is to be able to lead her team to success.
Millie Bright has continuously served for the Blues by constantly providing flawless and incredible performances over the past 9 years. She has proved time and time again that her defensive skills puts her within the top defenders within Women’s Football making her journey with Chelsea one to put in the history book to continue to inspire the next generation.
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