But now, the City captain has been included in the 2026 New Year Honours List for services to football.
She was a central piece for her nation at Euro 2025, as the Lionesses became the first England men’s or women’s side to solve the puzzle that is winning a major tournament on foreign soil.
The solution? Penalties – a source of so much heartbreak over the years for England teams – with Greenwood stepping up to fire home her spot kick in a 3-1 shootout win over Spain in the final.
One of the finest centre-halves of her generation, our captain is an inspiration in every sense of the word, and her MBE reflects that status.
But who’s shaped her leadership style? As a proud Liverpudlian growing up in the early 2000’s, her first footballing idol probably comes as little surprise.
Greenwood begins: “My idol growing up was Steven Gerrard. He was a massive one for me, as someone who grew up in Liverpool.
“The way he would just drag his team through games, he had that way of picking the team up when they were down and out and dragging them through.
“He was an unbelievable player and captain. He represents a lot of things and values I have myself from growing up in the same city and area.
“He just epitomised what I see in a true leader and footballer.
“I think it’s always been there [an ability to lead], but I’ve always had to work on it. What I mean by that is, I did it by an action rather than speaking. If we were playing as kids, I’d always be the one to lead to try and win, but I wouldn’t vocalise it.
“I don’t know whether that’s come with experience or leading, but I feel a lot more comfortable being able to do that to a certain extent. Mine’s a lot more action based than massively vocal.
“I love a conversation with someone, one on one, rather than shouting or screaming because I don’t think you get the best out of people that way.”
Greenwood arrived at the Joie Stadium in the summer of 2020 with an incredible CV, having recently helped her previous club, OL Lyonnes, to a European quadruple.
She’d already represented England at three major tournaments and also been named in the PFA WSL Team of the Year while at Notts County.
But her early years at City, surrounded by other vastly experienced faces, were some of her most defining.
Players who she knew so well from international duty were now team-mates on a day-to-day basis, including her new captain, Steph Houghton.
Few players have left as lasting an impact on a Club as our record appearance holder, the last remaining member of our first-ever professional side who ended a decade of stellar service when announcing her retirement in 2024.
And Houghton remains a key architect as Greenwood continues to build her leadership style.
“Steph [Houghton] for me is someone I was really close with at the Club,” the defender explains.
“When she was injured or unavailable to play, I would wear the armband, but I leant on Steph a lot. I used her as much as I could for advice. I still do it now.
“I’m not a complete captain, I don’t think it exists to be honest. But I still think you’re learning and you can take little bits from everybody and be vulnerable. It’s so important.
“Steph is someone who taught me ways to be a captain differently.
“She’s probably a bit more vocal than I am. I’m a bit more reserved in that way, but I still took little bits from her in meeting rooms and what she would say to people and use that to help me become a better leader.”
Greenwood is only the second player in our history to permanently wear the armband – a significant honour and, in equal measure, responsibility.
That’s one thing our captain has never shied away from, but she’s equally always been quick to highlight the key impact of those around her in helping to drive City forward.
Mention of the leadership group instantly brings a smile to Alex’s face.
She continues: “They’re massive. Just because I’m the captain, it doesn’t make anyone else less of a leader within the group.
“We have some fantastic young players in the group as well who are great leaders. We’ve got Kerstin [Casparij] who’s our vice-captain, Viv [Miedema], Rebecca [Knaak], I could name so many players who lead in different ways and help me.
“I can share the load with them a lot and I go to them for advice, because we all think differently. A situation might require someone else’s knowledge.
“I tap into that when I can, and they’ve been really great for me.”
When dissecting and analysing Greenwood’s appreciation for her team-mates, one theme consistently stands out: you can lead in a multitude of different ways.
Gerrard took the game by the scruff of the neck, while Houghton was a powerful, vocal presence on and off the pitch. There are shades of both in Greenwood’s own style as City captain, but what does she feel defines a ‘leader’?
She carefully considers her answer to the incredibly abstract and subjective question: “Leadership to me, isn’t that you’re ‘the’ leader. That might sound a bit weird, but what I’m trying to say is that, just because I’m the captain, it doesn’t make me the most important player or person.
“I definitely find it more rewarding as a leader or a captain if everybody feels they can take responsibility, has a voice and has a purpose within the team.
“Regardless of if I wear the armband or don’t, whoever’s sat to the left of me or right of me is just as important as I am for this team to be successful.
“I go back to people; we are human beings and people – not just footballers. And, for me, I have to realise we spend a large part of the day away from this building.
“As long as people are settled here and belong here, you’re going to get the best out of them on the pitch.”
