Interview with Eniola Aluko

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For out inaugural issue of AMBITION, we spoke to former Chelsea, Juventus and England footballer Eniola Aluko. Currently a TV pundit, Sporting Director & Author, Eniola has been lucky to carve out a career that feeds her passion, but as we find out, this isn't what solely defines her.

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You’ve managed to build an incredibly successful career in football while writing an autobiography, studying law and more. You’re clearly determined in multiple areas of your life. Where does your drive and ambition come from?

My drive and ambition comes from wanting to maximise my talent, ability and passion to succeed for myself and make my family proud - and to inspire other people to maximise their abilities, too. I’ve never wanted to be defined exclusively by football so I have always had a motivation to succeed in other areas as well.

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What challenges did you face when you decided you wanted to go all in on football, and how did you overcome them?

As a female footballer in the UK, the challenges faced have been around the stereotypes and negative perceptions attached to females in male-dominated sports. Sexism was a norm in the past, but female players and women’s football have kept going and shown we are professional, elite and deserving of equality and respect. In that way, we overcame sexism and changed the status quo.


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If you had to attribute three things to your success, what would they be?

Humility, faith, uninhibited ambition.

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What's the biggest risk you've taken that’s paid off well for you?

I think the biggest risks for me have been where I’ve put myself in a position where I am the first to do it. That is a risk because there is a potential of failure and huge criticism, however it pays off, because I see don't see being the first as a risk, but an opportunity that allows you to pioneer and open the door for so many others to follow. I was one of the first female footballers to move into punditry in the men’s game and as a result, it made it easier for other females to follow and normalised it as a career path. I am proud of that.

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What's the single best piece of advice you have ever received?

Never let success get to your head and failure to your heart. Humility should be rooted in everything we do. No matter how successful and wealthy you become, always remember your journey. Where you start does not dictate where you will end up.

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If you were handed a microphone and the whole world was listening, what would you say?

I would say that the beauty is in our differences. Our differences do not make any race or sex subordinate to another. When humanity lets go of the need to dominate another due to racial difference, gender, culture, etc., we will have a world that operates from a place of love and not division and hatred.

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Who is your hero and why?

I don’t have just one -  I have several sources of inspiration - but my mum would definitely be a she-ro for me. Her wisdom, faith and success is super inspiring.

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Where will Eniola Anuko’s ambition take her next?

I believe it is a gift to call your passion work and work your passion. I have been so fortunate that football is my passion and has opened so many doors that I can call a career. So, I really want to just keep doing work that feeds my passion. Ownership is also super important to me -  owning projects, property and brands is what I am prioritising and moving towards as my next level. As well as using my voice as a change agent in an influential way on my platforms.