For the second time in an accolade-laden career, UEFA Women’s Champion League winner Vicky Losada is once more returning to English football. After being with Barcelona for the majority of a decade, Losada will be joining Manchester City on a two-year free transfer contract. Having led Barcelona to their first international treble in the 2020-2021 season, Losada is said to be looking forward to her transfer, excited at the prospect of moving on to the next chapter of her career.
Low-down
At present, Losada’s career achievements include six Women’s Soccer League (WSL) titles, seven Copa de la Reina trophies, and eight Copa Catalunyas. She holds several notable personal triumphs as well, including being voted Arsenal Supporters’ Player of the Season in 2016.
According to Losada, English football is a great environment for her to challenge herself in. Going on record to say that Manchester City was probably Barcelona’s toughest opponent in the 2020-2021 season, Losada carries great respect for City and Barcelona alike. Both clubs are well-known for their numerous successes over the years, and are arguably two of the best clubs overall in modern-day football.
With rousing applause from Barcelona staff, Losada announced her departure to City at a farewell press conference, to the excitement of City supporters worldwide. According to club management, Lasoda will bring much-needed experience to City. Her knowledge around high-pressure competition, and her ability to play many roles effectively, make her one of the most versatile, energetic players currently available, in domestic as well as international football.
Rise
Born in 1991, Maria Victoria Losada Gomez (known as Vicky Losada), began her career with Barcelona’s La Masia youth development program. After graduating from the youth program, her debut season at Barcelona unfortunately ended with the club being relegated, motivating her to move to Espanyol in 2007.
After remaining at Espanyol for one season, Losada returned to Barcelona in 2008, when her home club managed to reverse their relegation. In 2011 she assisted Barcelona in securing their first major title in almost twenty years. During a brief stint overseas at Western New York Flash in the first half of 2014, Losada made a striking debut, scoring twice and gaining an assist in her very first game for the team. After being voted the National Women’s Soccer League Player of the Week, she transferred to Arsenal in 2015.
During Losada’s tenure, Arsenal won both the 2015 WSL League Cup as well as the 2015-2016 Women’s FA cup. After her contract at Arsenal ended in 2016, Losada returned yet again to Barcelona. Despite reports of the role being offered to her sooner, Barcelona officially selected Losada as team captain for their 2017-2018 season. Losada would subsequently lead the club to their first international treble in the 2020-2021 season, winning the Primera Division, UEFA Women’s Champion League, and the Copa de la Reina, all in the same year.
Present day
Losada will leave Barcelona after a dominating season with the club. Involving a mere two defeats across all competitions, the 2020-2021 season saw the club rise to the very top of international football, ending their international treble crescendo with a 4-0 victory over Chelsea in the Women’s FA cup. Barcelona has cumulatively won over a dozen trophies with Losada at the club.
No stranger to the back of the net, Losada is credited as being the first woman to score a goal for Spain in the 2015 Women’s World Cup. Not only did that make her Spain’s first ever World Cup goalscorer, she also seems to have a knack for finding the back of the net when it counts. Scoring the first goal of Spain’s 2-0 victory over Portugal during Euro 2017, Losada has won over 60 caps and scored 13 goals for her home country.
The future
Manchester City are the proud holders of every domestic title available to them, however, for the upcoming football season of 2021-2022 they’ve also set their sights on the Women’s FA cup, the same trophy Losada helped Barcelona raise in last year’s 2020-2021 season.
City’s management has said they believe Losada will fit right in with their vision, and is a great selection to represent the high standard of football the club wishes to maintain. Losada is known to have said that the intense competition of English football is what drew her to accept the deal with City. With years of experience behind her, Losada has proven that she can certainly hold her own in high-level competitions and tense encounters.
Eager to leave a positive legacy, Losada believes that the rise in popularity of women’s football means that she has the opportunity to become a role model for young women. Something she says she didn’t really have growing up, Losada believes now is the perfect time to be an example that young girls can look up to. A dog-lover and an honest talker, Losada has a positive outlook and an energetic charisma, and appears to be an all-round positive acquisition for City.
Wrap-up
Manchester City’s third signing for the upcoming 2021-2022 season, the club is evidently aiming to claim more trophies in future. City’s management are quoted as saying they’re looking forward to working with Losada for the next few years. Enjoying an incredible level of success throughout her career, Losada’s high-level experience appears to be exactly what City is looking for.
