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Eni Aluko is swiftly being reminded of Ian Wright’s lasting influence on women’s football, after it was revealed he’s been quietly supporting Kayleigh Mcdonald’s ACL rehabilitation. The revelation follows remarks from the former Chelsea forward, who accused the treasured Englishman of “dominating” roles in the women’s game and taking up space she felt should be reserved for others.
Long before the latest development in what many view as an unnecessary and one-sided feud, Wright had already earned widespread respect as a refreshing and authentic ally in the women’s football space – a symbol of how far the sport has come since its ban from 1921 to 1971.
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Now, with the discovery that Wright has been personally funding Mcdonald’s rehabilitation, Aluko may well be reconsidering her stance. This gesture is just one of many that reflect the Arsenal legend’s sincere dedication to supporting the growth and welfare of the women’s game.
He also donated £15,000 to a female coaching initiative
Kayleigh McDonald suffered a ruptured ACL while playing for Stoke City in March last year. After the club initially refused to cover the cost of her surgery, McDonald launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise the necessary funds. However, Stoke City later reversed their decision – thanks in large part to Ian Wright, who stepped in behind the scenes, hiring a sports lawyer to advocate on her behalf, as reported by The Telegraph.
Following successful surgery, the club agreed to cover her rehabilitation costs. But in November, McDonald was informed that the support would be withdrawn. Once again, Wright stepped up, first helping to secure short-term funding through December, and then personally covering her ongoing rehab expenses, which total around £1,700 per month. “I wouldn’t be in a great place mentally if it wasn’t for Ian Wright,” McDonald said (see her post below).
“I would probably still be waiting for my surgery if it wasn’t for him. For him to do this for me, someone he didn’t know, I think there should be more of a spotlight shone on him.”
This is just one of many examples of Ian Wright’s dedication to supporting women in football. In 2023, he partnered with Barclays to launch the Ian Wright Coaching Fund – an initiative aimed at boosting the number of female coaches at the grassroots level, particularly in under-represented communities where girls’ access to football remains limited. Wright personally donated £15,000 to the cause, helping fund Level One training courses for an impressive 664 aspiring female coaches.
Wright also launched a podcast alongside Steph Houghton last year about the women’s game and regularly speaks about it with Kelly Cates on the BBC. It is on his podcast that he continues to raise awareness about issues within the game, and very recently, he had Beth Mead appear as a guest to talk about the problems associated with periods.
What Eni Aluko Said
Speaking earlier on Wednesday during an appearance on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, the former England and Chelsea striker shared her thoughts on Ian Wright’s role in women’s football, offering a critique that has since sparked widespread debate. “I’ve worked with Ian a long time and, you know, I think he’s a brilliant broadcaster, but I think he’s aware of just how much he’s doing in the women’s game. I think he should be aware of that,” Aluko said.
She went on to highlight what she sees as a lack of balance in opportunities across the men’s and women’s games: “The fact of the matter is, there is a limited amount of spaces available. If we had a situation where there was an equal opportunity in the men’s game for broadcasters and coaches that there is in the women’s game, it’s a free for all.
“But that’s not the case. I can’t dominate the men’s game in the way that, you know, you used Ian as an example.” When asked to clarify whether she believes it’s wrong for Wright, 61, to be such a prominent figure in women’s football coverage, Aluko responded:
“I don’t know about wrong, but I think we need to be conscious and we need to make sure that women are not being blocked from having a pathway into broadcasting in the women’s game.”
“It’s still new, it’s still growing. There’s a finite amount of opportunities and I think that men need to be aware of that. Men need to be aware that, you know, you’re in a growing sport, a growing sport for women, and we haven’t always had these opportunities, and so it’s about the awareness and supporting other women through that pathway.”
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