Millie Bright names the former Chelsea teammate who she ‘looked up to’ | OneFootball

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Chelsea captain Millie Bright has revealed how former teammate Katie Chapman guided her early career, describing the retired midfielder as someone she ‘looked up to’.

Millie Bright reveals why she looked up to Katie Chapman

Speaking to Chelsea’s official website, Millie Bright praised Katie Chapman for the influence she had on her early Chelsea career.

Bright and Chapman were Chelsea teammates from 2014 to 2018, before the latter retired at the end of the 2017-18 season.

Reflecting on her early days at Chelsea, Bright shared: “I have always looked up to her. She took me under her wing when I first came and really showed me the ropes.”

Chapman’s mentorship provided Bright with a model of leadership and professionalism.

“She’s the one that I can relate to the most as a leader,” Bright added. “She wears her heart on her sleeve. She gives absolutely everything every single day. She’d do anything for anyone and plays with so much pride and passion.”

Bright also emphasised the lasting impact of such mentorship, saying: “It’s teammates like that and people like that that stick with you for life.

“Those morals and that way of being a teammate never leaves you.” Now, as a seasoned professional, Bright is eager to pass on the lessons she learned. “I want to pass that on to the next generation,” she stated.

“It’s good to know what came before because it’s what got us here. But it’s not what will get us to the next place. We have to evolve again.”

Katie Chapman’s legacy at Chelsea

Katie Chapman joined Chelsea in January 2014, reuniting with manager Emma Hayes, who had previously been assistant manager at Arsenal when Chapman played for the Gunners.

During her tenure at Chelsea, Chapman made 102 appearances and scored 14 goals. She captained the team to victory in the 2015 FA Women’s Cup, the first time the final was held at Wembley Stadium, and secured the club’s first Women’s Super League (WSL) title in the same year.

In 2018, Chapman added a record 10th FA Women’s Cup winner’s medal to her collection as Chelsea triumphed over Arsenal 3–1 at Wembley. Following that victory, Chapman announced her retirement from professional football.

Chapman also played 94 times for England between 2000 and 2016.

Bright, who has 88 caps for England, last week announced her decision to retire from international football.

The defender made her Lionesses debut in September 2016, but stepped back from consideration ahead of the 2025 Women’s Euros, saying she was unable to commit 100 per cent physically and mentally to the cause.