It comes after the England international received an MBE for services to football in the 2026 New Year’s Honours List.
The honour is the latest highlight for the central defender after she helped the Lionesses retain the European Championship last summer - playing in all of Sarina Wiegman’s side’s matches at the tournament, including the final victory over Spain.
At the beginning of the calendar year, though, and with Greenwood in the midst of a gruelling rehabilitation from a knee injury there were times when the competition in Switzerland appeared out of reach.
What followed was a dedicated commitment to returning to fitness which resulted in her helping England to a historic summer ahead of a fantastic 2025/26 for City so far with Andrée Jeglertz’s side at the top of the Barclays Women’s Super League table.
For Greenwood, the sacrifices and difficult moments endured were all worthwhile.
“I was speaking to my family about it [the year 2025]. I was saying ‘this time last year I was just full of doubt and anxiety’,” Greenwood explained.
“I had no idea what the rest of the year was going to look like, I didn’t think I was going to make the Euros. I had to have two surgeries and I was in so much pain and I ‘ve never felt that way in my career before about what the year was going to look like.
“Fast forward 12 months and I was receiving an MBE, I won back-to-back Euros, signed a new contract [with City], we’re doing really well in the league and I just think it puts a lot into perspective sometimes when how you feel in the moment it’s how it’s going to be.
“It does go down to a lot of mentality and sacrifice, but the start of the year wasn’t the easiest I can’t lie, it was tough. But up until May I still didn’t feel right in myself and it took a lot of perseverance to try make the Euros.
“Thankfully it paid off. I’m not going to say it was easy because it wasn’t. There were so many times I thought ‘do I just give up now’ and allow my body to heal properly and call it a day [with] the Euros because it was a really close call.
“I was so close to not making it because I still wasn’t right, my knee wasn’t right but obviously there’s something in you that just tells you ‘you can’t give up’ and I’ve had that my whole life even as a kid which has maybe helped me to have a good career so far and helped me as a person.
“I would never lie to people and say it was easy to get to those times because when you lift trophies and get medals it sugar coats everything and under pins everything you’ve gone through.
“Hempo is probably similar, Georgia [Stanway] who has also received an MBE, we’ve spoken about it together when it was announced that just 12 months ago we text each other saying ‘are we even going to make the Euros?’ it was uncertain times.
“Sitting here now it’s emotional, looking back to say it was all worth it really.”
Since joining City in 2020, Greenwood has cemented her status as one of world football’s finest operators across 154 appearances for the Club.
During that time she has won the FA Cup and League Cup and also been included in three PFA WSL Team of the Year squads while at City in 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2023/24.
Before her spell in Manchester, she won the Champions League with OL Lyonnes as well as three other trophies in France between 2019 and 2020.
And she believes her MBE for services to football is also recognition for those who have helped her across her journey so far.
Greenwood added: “It doesn’t happen without them, it’s a fact. Even yesterday, we have a family group and I’ve read some nice messages because since my career started, I know their whole life has to be paused for me and the things they’ve sacrificed for me, the journey they have to go on.
“The plans they make, the whole thing revolves around my life and football. Sometimes people forget that not only do I have to sacrifice so much in a good way to do what I do, then everyone around me also has to do that as well because their life revolves around mine a lot.
“Coaches as well. I’ve mentioned Mo many times in my career but she was and is so important. I speak to her still often now and I spoke to her just yesterday and she’s just been a great person in my career who has kept me grounded, understands me a lot being from the same city.
“There’s so many people I could mention, but they know who they are and I’ve made sure I’ve told them.”
By being named in the New Year’s Honours list, City’s captain has followed Steph Houghton, Jill Scott and Lauren Hemp in receiving MBEs while playing for the Blues.
When asked how it feels to receive the honour, she concluded: “It does feel a little bit weird, I’m not sure if it’ll ever feel normal to be honest. It’s really nice.”
“I am really proud. I often overlook things when you achieve something personally or as a team and I think ‘I’ll come back and look at that when the time’s right’ and you just never do. You just think ‘what’s next?’.
“Because I’ve had a little bit of time knowing without anyone else knowing, I’ve been able to process it and tell really close family and friends about it.
“I’ve actually been really proud of it and the journey I’ve come from. It’s really special – it’s an award for me but it’s means so much to so many people along the way. It is really nice.”
