Faye White Arsenal and England captain

FAYE WHITE STATS Born: 2 Feb 1978 Birthplace: Sussex Club: Arsenal Height: 5ft 11in Qualifications: Sports massage therapist Likes: Movies, sport and travelling

Leading your country is the biggest achievement you could ever aim for in football.

I always had dreams for playing for England but never thought it would happen.

I was 12 coming into the game and before I knew it, I was captaining Arsenal and England. It's a great reward for all the hard work.

Being quite bossy and a control freak helps me I suppose! I do like to be in control of a situation but not in an overpowering way.

I'm not the most vocal of players, but on the pitch I step in and do what I feel I'm good at and what I'm here for.

It's all about leadership and motivation.

I try to encourage the players to focus on what needs doing. I also need to recognise when things need to be said or don't.

If someone has returned from injury I try to give them the thumbs up or a tap on the shoulder when they've done something well.

The management will often tell a player where they can improve their game, but it also needs to be done on the pitch.

Even the senior players need talking to sometimes - they occasionally have expectations that they don't need help!

I'm not someone who will have a rant and rave at half-time - I'm no Roy Keane! I try to stay calm and composed, encouraging the team and speak to the players individually.

People react in different ways. So you have to keep working on understanding what certain players need.

You need to keep an eye out for players looking down - or not performing - and even when they've had a great game. They do need to know.

And if they think I'm the one not pulling my weight they'll tell me! And that's the way it should be.

It's a two-way thing. When you go out on the pitch you need 11 players to take the responsibility.

All the captain does really is flip the coin! That's the ideal situation, but it doesn't always work out like that.