Kelly Jayne Smith was born on 29 October 1978 and is an English former football forward who spent three spells with FA WSL club Arsenal Ladies.
33 Facts About Kelly Smith
2.
Kelly Smith accumulated 117 caps for the England national team after making her debut in 1995.
3.
Kelly Smith played for Great Britain at the 2012 London Olympics.
4.
Kelly Smith spent that year at West Herts College, but transferred to Seton Hall University in the United States in 1997.
5.
Kelly Smith played for the Seton Hall Pirates from 1997 through 1999.
6.
However, a new top-flight women's league was about to start in the United States and Kelly Smith stayed in the country to participate in the project.
7.
Kelly Smith was drafted second overall in the 2001 WUSA Foreign Allocation Draft by Philadelphia Charge.
8.
Kelly Smith played all three seasons with Philadelphia and was named to the 2001 WUSA Global 11 All-Star Team.
9.
Kelly Smith decided to keep playing in the United States following the collapse of the WUSA.
10.
Kelly Smith ended up appearing in eight games for the club and tallied eight goals and six assists.
11.
Kelly Smith returned to England and Arsenal in the autumn of 2004.
12.
Kelly Smith officially rejoined in 2005 after being treated at the Sporting Chance clinic.
13.
Kelly Smith won the FA Women's Players' Player of the year in 2006 and 2007.
14.
Kelly Smith was chosen by the Boston Breakers second overall in the 2008 WPS International Draft, above Marta and under only Formiga.
15.
However, Kelly Smith decided to leave Arsenal to join Boston Breakers on 18 February 2009, one of a number of English players to join the new Women's Professional Soccer League.
16.
Kelly Smith was named to the WPS All-Star ballot, but was unavailable for the match due to England's participation at the European Championships.
17.
In 2010 Kelly Smith started all her 21 appearances, leading the team with 11 goals and five assists.
18.
On leaving Boston Breakers, Kelly Smith resisted offers from clubs in Sweden and Germany to join Arsenal for a third time.
19.
Kelly Smith debuted for the England national team on 1 November 1995, three days after turning 17.
20.
Kelly Smith had been unable to accept a call-up to England's 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup squad that summer due to sitting her GCSE exams.
21.
Kelly Smith has competed in the 2001,2005, and 2009 editions of the UEFA Women's Championship, as well as the 2007 and 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup with England.
22.
Kelly Smith played in the 2007 China Cup against the United States, Germany and China where she was named the player of the tournament.
23.
Kelly Smith was voted third in the 2009 FIFA Women's World Player of the Year, fourth in 2007 and fifth in 2006 and 2008.
24.
Kelly Smith reportedly became England's all-time record goalscorer in September 2010, when she scored her 41st international goal against Switzerland.
25.
On 3 February 2015, Kelly Smith announced her retirement from international duty.
26.
Kelly Smith made her television debut on FOX Sports in December 2014, and provided commentary for 2018 FIFA World Cup.
27.
Kelly Smith studied at Francis Combe School and Community College in Watford.
28.
Kelly Smith has spoken about her previous alcohol addiction which included treatment at The Priory and Sporting Chance Clinic.
29.
Kelly Smith used to share a house with England, Arsenal and Boston Breakers teammate Alex Scott.
30.
In Scott's 2022 autobiography, she revealed that she and Kelly Smith had previously been in a romantic relationship.
31.
Kelly Smith gave birth to their son, Rocco Jude, in May 2017.
32.
On 1 August 2019, Kelly Smith gave birth to their second child, daughter Lucia, via c-section.
33.
Kelly Smith was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2008 Birthday Honours.