- Full Name: Erin Jacqueline Cuthbert
- DoB: July 19, 1998
- Born in: Irvine
- Height: 163 cm (5ft 4′)
- Position: Forward
‘You dream about players like this coming around – full of heart, desire, determination.’ – Emma Hayes on Erin Cuthbert
The words of Emma Hayes perfectly encapsulate the singularity that Erin Cuthbert possesses as a footballer. In every performance, there is evidence of an innate drive to not only be the best, but to win at all costs. Despite her young age, the 22-year-old forward from Irvine, Scotland has already established herself in the Chelsea team and become a firm fan-favourite. With the nickname ‘Scottish Messi’, lets explore why Erin Cuthbert is a footballing great in her own right.
Erin Cuthbert: The Beginning
After taking up football at a young age, Cuthbert had her first taste of competitive football when she was signed for her childhood club, Rangers, to form part of their youth academy. While developing in the academy, her talent was spotted by Scottish Women’s Premier League club, Glasgow City, who went on to sign the youngster in 2015. This move would prove crucial for Cuthbert and her quest to make it to the top of women’s football.
Early Chelsea Career
In 2016, Cuthbert signed for Chelsea from Glasgow City when she was just eighteen. At the time, she was Glasgow City’s top goal scorer, and had enjoyed domestic success with the Scottish side. Her move to Chelsea signalled her desire to take the next step in her journey and transform from an exciting, young prospect into a well-known figure within English football.
Cuthbert made her debut for the Blues in March 2017 in the FA Cup against Doncaster Rovers Belles. This was soon followed by her league debut in April 2017 against Yeovil in which she registered a goal and an assist, a clear indication of the talent Chelsea had brought to London.
Since her debut back in 2017, Cuthbert has become an integral part of Chelsea’s successful framework. Her tenacity on the pitch is unrivalled and she plays every fixture with the intensity of a world cup final. Kingsmeadow is to her, a world stage, and her fearlessness and infectious work rate has become a characteristic part of her game.
With such desire to achieve, it is unsurprising that Cuthbert has received individual recognition in recent years. The 2018/19 season was a particularly successful campaign for the 22-year-old, having been named Chelsea’s Player of the Year and shortlisted for the Women’s PFA Young Player of the Year award. The accolades coming as the result of an impressive eight goals and six assists in nineteen league appearances.
Later Chelsea Career
To those who have seen her play Cuthbert is, quite simply, a magician in the guise of a footballer. I mean this in the sense that she possesses a remarkable ability to produce a moment of magic which effects the game and entertains fans in the process. Take for example, her goal against Lyon in the semi-final of the Champions League in 2019. Away from home, Chelsea were facing a two-goal deficit until Cuthbert’s left-footed volley was struck perfectly and rippled the back of the net. The strike won her plaudits and was voted the best goal in the UEFA 2019 Champions League, but more importantly, it epitomised Cuthbert’s ability to embrace pressure and perform; producing goals when her team need it most.
A truly great player is also marked by their ability to sustain high levels of performance and during the 2019-20 league winning season, Cuthbert demonstrated that she deserves a place within this category with another consistent campaign. With fourteen league appearances, two goals, four assists, and fifty shot-creating actions during the 2019-20 league season, the value and influence she adds to her team is evident.
The 2020/21 season has been no different for the young Scot and having played just seven league matches so far this season she has already registered three assists and one goal; a promising start to the campaign. During this season, she has also reached her 100th appearance for the club and back in July 2020, she put pen to paper and signed a new three-year deal with the Blues. With her future secured, Chelsea fans will be excited to see her continued development in a Blue shirt.
International Career
With such an impressive record domestically, it comes as no surprise that Cuthbert has also become a consistent figure in the Scottish national team. Having been involved throughout the youth set up, she made her senior international debut in Scotland’s 1-0 win over Belarus during the Women’s Euro 2017 qualification. Three years on from her debut and the youngster now has forty caps for her country.
Arguably Cuthbert’s greatest international moment came in summer 2019 during the World Cup. Despite failing to make it past the group stages, Cuthbert was an integral part of Scotland’s team, playing in all three fixtures against England, Japan, and Argentina.
Her goal and assist against Argentina, although not enough to secure the win, earned her the Player of the Match award, but it was her goal celebration during the match that grabbed the headlines. Shortly after scoring, the 22-year-old held up a picture of her younger self, dressed head-to-toe in a Ranger’s tracksuit outside Ibrox Stadium. The picture, a gift from her Father to remind her of her journey, symbolised a young girl fulfilling her dream of representing her country on the world stage. Although Cuthbert has achieved her dream of representing Scotland at a World Cup, at just 22 years old, she will be hoping that this is just the start of a successful international career.
Key Achievements
Chelsea
- FA Women’s Super League titles: 2017, 2017-18, 2019-20
- Women’s FA Cup: 2017-18
- FA Women’s League Cup: 2019-20
- Women’s FA Community Shield: 2020
- Over 100 appearances for Chelsea
Individual
- Guardian – Top 100 best female footballers in the world 2020
- Chelsea’s Player of the Year: 2018/19
- Shortlisted for the Women’s PFA Young Player of the Year award 2018/19
- BT Women’s Scotland Player of the Year: 2019
- Part of the 55 most voted players for the 2020 FIFA FIFPRO Women’s World 11
Sources
https://www.chelseafc.com/en/teams/women/erin-cuthbert?pageTab=biography
https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/2020/09/10/cuthbert-hits-the-century-mark
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