In this episode of Footballers Unfiltered with Joe Hart, England and Chelsea right-back Lucy Bronze opens up about her role as both a player and a powerful advocate for change in the women’s game.A member of FIFPRO’s Global Player Council and the PFA players’ board, Lucy has been at the table for England contract talks and global discussions on issues like the match calendar, welfare, and financial security. She explains why players’ voices must be central to shaping football’s future: “Sometimes the people making decisions don’t have those lived experiences. I feel a responsibility to share mine, because I’ve been given the platform that so many others haven’t.”

Beyond her advocacy, Lucy is one of the most decorated players in football. A five-time UEFA Women’s Champions League winner, a serial league champion, and a double European champion with England, she reflects on the rapid professionalisation of the women’s game — from part-time contracts and side jobs to sold-out stadiums. She also revisits her headline-making “99%” comments on financial security, and why speaking out matters.

Joe and Lucy relive the drama of Euro 2025, from the nerve of penalty shootouts to the resilience that carried the Lionesses to a historic title defence. They also look ahead to the one trophy missing from her collection: the Women’s World Cup, where Lucy has already finished fourth, third, and second across three tournaments.

They’re joined by Victoria Williams, Player Services Executive at the PFA, who reflects on her own playing career and why helping footballers prepare for life after the game is more urgent than ever.

Together, they discuss:

• Why advocacy and lived experience must drive decisions in football

• The reality behind the rise: early-career pay, pathways and professionalism

• Leadership and resilience inside England’s Euro-winning squads

• Lucy’s next target: adding a World Cup to her career of medals

This episode shows that footballers are not just champions on the pitch — they’re also leaders shaping the game’s future. And Lucy Bronze is helping set that standard.

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This is a podcast made by Message Heard for FIFPRO.

Host: Joe Hart

Producer: Mark Kendrick

Production Coordinator: Kirsty McLean

Videographer & Editor: Ethan Judd

Sound Editor: Lizzy Andrews