“Once I got here to Everton, I felt so welcomed, so valued and to at the present time, it is undoubtedly the perfect determination I ever made in my profession.”
It’s secure to say Ruby Mace is not only thriving at Everton, she is excelling. Her transfer to Goodison Park from Leicester in the summertime was a club-record signing.
Well mannered and humble, that doesn’t have an effect on the 22-year-old’s considering – “I simply wished to go someplace I felt wished,” she stated – however the Toffees are actually getting their cash’s value.
It’s at each Leicester, the place she frolicked on mortgage earlier than making a everlasting transfer, and Everton over the previous couple of years the place Mace has made a reputation for herself.
But it surely was a troublesome spell at Manchester Metropolis – the place she signed her first skilled deal on her 18th birthday in 2021 – that taught her simply what she wished from a soccer membership.
In an unique interview with Sky Sports activities, Mace stated: “With Man Metropolis, they wished me to remain in and across the first staff, studying off the likes of Steph [Houghton], Alex Greenwood and that is one thing that I wished to absorb my profession.
“I might been at Arsenal the entire time (Mace got here by their academy and made three first-team appearances). I knew nothing totally different and I wanted to step out of my consolation zone a bit of bit.
“I all the time say I by no means have any regrets, however possibly it wasn’t the correct determination for me to progress ahead in that enjoying fashion.
“I am a younger participant and you may’t simply count on to stroll right into a Man Metropolis aspect and begin each week. I knew that that wasn’t going to occur.
“But it surely’s once you go into coaching each single day, you are giving it your all however you are getting informed there’s nothing extra you are able to do and you continue to do not get your probability.
“It feels a bit of bit unfair and I began to query myself. That is when my household stepped in and stated ‘I do not know why you are feeling like this. You are a good participant and it’s worthwhile to go and chase your desires’.
“When the chance of Leicester got here alongside, it was a no brainer. I needed to go and play, particularly below a coach who wished me to be there. To really feel valued in a staff might be the largest blessing you can ever have.
Mace credit Leicester with serving to her rediscover her love of soccer
“Once I went there on mortgage, I felt so liked. I felt like I used to be going right into a household the place they wished me there, they wished me to play, they wished to see my identify on the teamsheet.
“I realised, ‘wow, I play my finest soccer once I really feel valued by a staff, when the individuals round me need me there’.
“They gave me the chance and the platform to have the ability to play soccer and be joyful. That was why it was such a straightforward determination for me to return there and have that very same alternative.
Highlights of the Girls’s Tremendous League match between Everton and West Ham
“Once I look again now, not enjoying in Manchester Metropolis really induced a number of the darkest occasions in my profession. If I used to be to have any recommendation to myself now, I might say ‘go and play and be joyful’.
“Now, I like enjoying for Everton as a result of I really feel like I am a participant that performs with aggression and the grit between my tooth.
“I like to get caught in and at Leicester and particularly now at Everton, they’re the kind of groups that want that little little bit of grit and a bit of little bit of chew. I really feel like my fashion of play actually fits Everton.
“While you play for groups beneath the highest 4, it is a totally different fashion of soccer. It reveals how aggressive you may be. It challenges you in numerous methods and I really feel prefer it brings out the perfect in me, it brings out what I am good at and I actually like that.”
Defender or midfielder?
Mace is including versatility to her sport too. She has principally performed as a holding midfielder in her brief profession, however with accidents hitting Everton’s defence this season, she has been moved right into a centre-back position.
It’s arduous to consider she has barely performed there earlier than, particularly taking a look at her stats. She is prime within the WSL for tackles and clearances, and among the many prime 10 for interceptions and headed clearances, so might we be seeing Mace morph right into a world-class defender?
“I’ve needed to study lots,” she stated. “At first of the season, we would have liked somebody to play there and I really feel grateful that I used to be the one who was ready to try this. That is one thing that I actually appreciated.
“Martina [Fernandez] has helped me lots as a result of she’s been there from day one and I have never. She actually helps me within the video games with the little particulars of what a defender wants.
“The midfield position and the centre-back position isn’t too totally different, but additionally fully totally different in a approach.
“The six, it’s a must to be very switched on, all the time checking your shoulders, being obtainable on a regular basis. Within the defensive position, you possibly can’t make a mistake. I made one mistake towards Aston Villa and so they scored immediately, so that you get punished should you make errors towards good groups.
Ebony Salmon pounced on a poor defensive cross from Everton and produced a scientific end
“It is helped me enjoying within the defensive position as a result of now I do know what I would like from a midfielder.
“I might love to return into the midfield when the time’s proper and when my staff want me there and in addition when we have now discovered an answer [in defence].
“I’ve to be a staff participant and if the supervisor can get the perfect out of me within the defensive place for now, that is what I’ve to do. I’ve to offer my all for the staff each single week.
“Being ready that is not mine has been troublesome, however with this staff round me, it is also been the best factor.”
World Cup squad ‘100 per cent’ in Mace’s sights
Not solely does it give Everton extra choices, however England too. The Lionesses are stacked in midfield – Keira Walsh, Georgia Stanway and Grace Clinton enjoying in related roles – however defence might do with reinforcements. There’s a precedent too with captain Leah Williamson having beforehand shifted between the 2.
Mace missed out on the newest England camp regardless of her WSL-topping numbers – having already earned her first cap in December 2024 – however is an everyday for the U23s.
When requested if she had spoken to England boss Sarina Wiegman on one other call-up, Mace added: “To be trustworthy, I have never had any conversations with Sarina as of but.
“Going to the U23s is a step to point out that you simply’re not too distant, however you are not there but. All I can do is preserve doing what I am doing and enjoying to the perfect of my means.
Mace made her England debut in December 2024, however has not earned one other senior cap since
“Proper now, my focus is on Everton and doing the perfect I can for them and if it comes, it comes. I understand how arduous it’s to be there and as fast as you get it, that is as fast as it may be taken away from you. It is one thing that I simply must preserve striving for and dealing for.”
“100 per cent”, is her reply when quizzed if a spot within the 2027 World Cup squad is in her sights. “It should take loads of work to get there, but it surely’s undoubtedly certainly one of my targets.”
It may very well be fast too if Euro 2025 is something to go by. Michelle Agyemang solely made her England debut in April earlier than being included within the event squad, scoring essential targets because the Lionesses defended their European title.
When requested if that is one thing that may encourage others, Mace replied: “For positive. Accidents come round and nobody’s going to be younger endlessly so there’s going to be modifications alongside the way in which.
“It is about how I can put together myself with out realizing if I will be there or not and ensure I am the perfect model of myself.”
That’s actually taking place for Mace at Everton this season. She is placing herself in a robust place to be a hit for the Toffees and England for years to come back.
Everton face Spurs within the WSL when it returns on Sunday March 15, stay on Sky Sports activities; kick-off 11.55am.
