Leah Williamson ‘lived a dream' after lifting Champions League with Arsenal
That remained the only time an English women's side had won the Champions League until Saturday night in Portugal, where the Spanish holders could not find a reply to Stina Blackstenius' 74th-minute strike.
'I had some tears on the plane the day before, the hotel, just some messages and people talking to me,' Williamson told reporters.
Just two childhood Gooners living the dream 🥰 pic.twitter.com/yXshi1SzmR
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) May 26, 2025
'I always said, 'trophy for England over the trophy for Arsenal' because I just think you don't pick your country, it's a bit more of a fate thing, a bit more luck needs to be involved.
'But I feel ashamed now because that feeling yesterday was, I think right now, the happiest I've ever been in my whole entire life and I hope that other Arsenal fans are because I know I lived a dream, I never take it for granted.'
Williamson, who captained England to their first major silverware at the 2022 home Euros, joined Arsenal's academy aged nine, and has spent her entire senior career at the club after she was promoted to the first team in 2014.
She added: 'I think professionally a lot of people would say that you should move (clubs) and you should test yourself in different environments and I've probably made it harder for myself staying in the same place and trying to get more out of myself every year. It's so hard.
'The environment doesn't necessarily change and with the same faces, same people, I'm comfortable in that sense.
Arsenal's players celebrate their Champions League success (Adam Davy/PA)
'And then you get a day like Saturday and this is why, because winning a Champions League final for Arsenal, it just wouldn't mean the same anywhere else as it would here. My dreams came true.'
Fans began to gather early on Monday ahead of a 10:30 start to the festivities, which included a trophy lift, speeches from a selection of players and head coach Renee Slegers, a DJ, a dancing Gunnersaurus and even a cameo by Arsenal 'club dog' Win, the chocolate Labrador brought in by men's boss Mikel Arteta to help develop the 'family atmosphere' at the club.
Dutchwoman Slegers, who spent a year in the club's youth team between 2006 and 2007 before becoming assistant coach in 2023, was appointed on a permanent basis in January after serving as interim head coach following Jonas Eidevall's departure in October.
Arsenal and Australia defender Steph Catley said: 'I think she's just brought belief to every individual and to us as a squad. I think if you look at our squad, we're so, so talented, we've got everything there we need to beat anyone in the world.'
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