Olivia Smith: Our Crazy

0:00There was a few, a handful of really good people that really got it, that really understood the potential that we had here, that understood our crazy. Here's Olivia Smith who takes the strike, it's brilliant! Olivia was a talent that couldn't be missed, right? Up steps the Canadian and finishes. The Women's Young Player of the Year. Smith goes on her own! It's Olivia Smith. She's a game changer and you pay money for game changers. You pay money for people that can score goals. Arsenal have announced the signing of Olivia Smith from Liverpool. I actually said it to them on the recruitment call.

0:41She will be the best player in the world and she will be the first million pound player. So she had a crystal ball. She will always be the first million pound footballer. Whatever happens now in her career. She matched my crazy. Even though I wanted, she wanted it more than I did. Out of nothing. Olivia Smith gives Liverpool the lead. The 20-year-old forward becomes the first£1 million player in the women's game.

1:18Well, you know what? It started at a very young age. When Olivia got a ball and kicked it around with her dad, Sean, in the town where she grew up, in southern Ontario, the place where she would play football and where her career began. Even before football, she was always very rambunctious. She's always running around the house. She just had something very special to her where she was always active. So we had to find ways to keep her motivated. And my love of sports, my love of football, it just kind of went hand in hand. I'm Juliet Farrington and this is Our Crazy, the story of Olivia Smith, the first million pound player in women's football.

2:05We put her on a ball at three years old and from there you could see that she had something a little bit different than everybody else at a young age and you know I know a lot of people would say oh you're just saying that because it's your daughter and I'm like no no no no you know I've been around the game and around sports loud enough to know when someone is a little bit different it's a moment of brilliance really from olivia smith she does so well she she gets on that ball there she's got no right but she goes for it she makes something of it you know we we were very lucky to be around some good people in the beginning i learned a lot from and then i was able to actually bring that to livy when she was young and it got to a point where it was something that was really special because it created a very special bond between us.

3:01He couldn't be prouder. One of those good people Sean talks about is Marco Milanovic. He's a coach from North Toronto and played a huge part in her development as a young player. Olivia was a talent that couldn't be missed, right? I mean, anyone who knows the game and even the people who don't know the game saw right away something special in her when she was 11, 12, 13. She really stood out. She played up multiple years, two, three years up, and she still dominated. It was very easy to see that she was going to go on and become something special. So I think she would have made it regardless of any of us coaches.

3:45I really believe that. I'm happy that she feels that I played a part in her development, but I really believed that she would have been there even if us coaches weren't around. Her dad quickly got used to the early alarm calls. Her work ethic at a young age was insane. Seven years old, she's waking me up. 5 a.m., we had a training facility that we would go to. It was about 45 minutes away from our house, 50 minutes away from our house on Saturday mornings that we would wake up. get our stuff together, get our breakfast, jump in the car, drive out there to get extra training. Because the belief was back at a young age was that the more training, the more players, the different coaching that you could get at a young age would form the player that you will be later on.

4:45And that was something that we've always believed. And I think she still believes it to this day. You can actually see it. From speaking to her father, Sean, and her coach, Marko Milanovic, you could feel the desire, the ambition, the competitiveness Olivia had to achieve her dreams from an early age. She would spend hours doing cone drills. She absolutely loved the game. You know, she couldn't wait for the games to begin. In warm-ups, she would be so excited. She would be dancing. Just couldn't wait for that opening whistle for the game to start. so that passion was obvious right there in terms of on field stuff i think she's a perfect mix of power and that south american flair that's family's jamaican background mom's a south american she got i think the best of both worlds and and it was it was a perfect blend add to that that passion and and work creating hunger that she sat from day one and you get the product that you see now.

5:47And it's that product that made headlines with her debut appearance for the Canadian women's senior team at 15, becoming the youngest ever player to do so. And moving to Portugal at 18, just before the start of the Women's World Cup in 2023. Going straight from high school and into the real deal of professional football.

6:15Olivia isn't afraid to make those big decisions going against the grain of convention and rewriting expectations in the process At Sporting Lisbon she scored and assisted on a league debut and was named player of the year and young player of the season and it was during that time in Portugal where she caught the eye of Matt Beard the then Liverpool head coach who brought her to Anfield the following year, her second successive summer move. And Smith goes for it, checks inside and shoots. What a finish! Olivia Smith off the mark in a Liverpool shirt. It is the perfect start for Matt Beard's team against his old club and what a finish it was.

7:04My first thing that I look at as players is attitude. What are they like without the ball? Pressing, dropping off, recovering. and she was just a complete player at such a young age in the sense of an all-round game on the ball. She was fantastic. And I think you've only got to look at a few of the goals that she scored. We knew that we was getting a talented player. The personality as well when we had the recruitment meetings with her and her family. I actually said it to them on the recruitment call. She will be the best player in the world and she will be the first million-pound player. So, I wish I had a crystal ball.

7:39Matt Beard wasn't the only person. She will always be the first million pound footballer. The Guardian's women's football writer, Tom Gary. You know, the historic Trevor Francis-esque price tag, whatever happens now in her career will always write that. The night Liverpool played Manchester United in March of this year, Tom was sitting in the Anfield press box. Three red shirts in the box and Olivia Smith has wriggled away from her defender and still going and squeezing in underneath the Manchester United goalkeeper. That was the night Smith scored twice and it was the night he thought something big could be on the cards.

8:21Out of nothing. Olivia Smith gives Liverpool the lead. I don't know how much of a pivot point this was but I know a lot of people in recruitment involved at the big clubs watched her starring role against Manchester United I think that was a live Sky game at Anfield where Liverpool beat Mark Skinner's team and Smith was on fire I had a message from someone who worked in recruitment for a WSL side, another WSL club that night who sort of said well someone's going to sign her And I actually applied with a kind of an emoji of like, oh, like, that's interesting. Yeah, I also think the goal she scored on the counter-attack against Chelsea, you know, those moments against big teams where she's had those moments and she takes the game by the scruff of the neck and makes something happen.

9:15Here's Olivia Smith who takes the strike. It's brilliant. Smith's national head coach, Casey Stoney. I've not seen anyone really hit a ball the way she can in terms of her power. and the way she can strike a ball is unbelievable. She's a game changer and you pay money for game changers. You pay money for people that can score goals and she's definitely one of those. And that raw unfiltered power Smith has is another strength that hasn't gone unnoticed.

9:45Arsenal have announced the signing of Olivia Smith from Liverpool on a long-term contract. the 20-year-old forward becomes the first£1 million player in the women's game. One person even suggested to me that Liverpool might have rejected upwards of seven different bids at various stages before eventually accepting the£1 million bid because I think it was always going to take a huge sum to persuade Liverpool to let her go. But what I think is really interesting about this deal is that Arsenal, as I understand it, felt that actually, despite being a world record, they were still getting a bit of a bargain because a player of this calibre, they feel, and other clubs agree, in two years' time might be well over£2 million.

10:33I think the women's game's constantly taken me by surprise with the transfer market, to be honest with you, and the speed and acceleration that the fees are going up in. But I obviously have worked with Livia, you know, not enough really, to be honest, in terms of the camp she's been at, But enough to know that she's very high potential and that if she reaches that potential, that'll be money very, very well worth spent. There's no question the awards Smith has picked up in her short professional career so far have been justified. So steep has been a rise. So what comes next? For sure, it'll be a different season at Arsenal than the one she's just experienced at Liverpool.

11:12Champions League winners after all. I spent two spells there as a player. So I understand the club really well. We recently went and visited the club as soon as Olivia signed and went in and spent the day with them. And the wins game's changed a lot since obviously I was there. So the amount of staffing, resources, infrastructure that's there to support her from all aspects to psychology, nutrition, obviously the technical side and the analysis side, everything's there for her. So I think she's at a really good club. Obviously a huge fan base, huge demands, but I think she's ready for it. She certainly did battle with Katie McCabe last season, who's more than happy to have Smith as a teammate this time around.

11:52But also the transfer fees within the women's game will increase more and more. She's shown in the league. She's a top young talent. I think in terms of the numbers, you're going to see those types of numbers going forward. The league and the women's game has just grown and grown. So, yeah, we've welcomed her in with open arms and I'm excited to see how she gets on. You're listening to Olivia Smith, our crazy. We'll be back with more after this quick break.

12:22You said you couldn't afford them. I bought you some Freddo's. Everyone said you're going to Keith's podcast. And I was like, does she have a podcast? I mean, there's left foot and then there's left foot. Yeah. I mean, her left foot's pretty good, right? Yeah, there's a clean. It has to be, because the right one's for Stanislav. Hi, I'm Nikita Patis. Hi, I'm Sandrine Franci. You can see and listen to these two on Pitch to Pod from the London City training ground. I mean, why wouldn't you?

12:55Hello, you're listening to a Sky Sports podcast about Olivia Smith, the first million pound transfer in the women's game. Arsenal have certainly made their intentions known by signing the now 21-year-old as they look to close that gap and dominance at the top of the WSL. She's already one of the most talented young players in football. With Arsenal strong in the belief she can help them become a more consistent and dangerous side, as well as continuing her own development. She's got the character and personality to succeed, as both Matt Beard and Casey Stoney explain. Do you know what, like brilliant, genuinely on a human level, like she's young she is young you know she's young her rises happen quite quickly so she has to learn certain elements of like professionalism and the game and obviously being at a top top club now you know i think it's going to be really beneficial for her but just a fantastic person wants to learn wants to grow probably describe her as quite sweet really in terms of her innocence and the way she goes about things but at the same time now there's going to be demands placed on her there's a price tag placed on her.

14:06I met with her a few weeks ago and she seems comfortable with it. She's excited. She feels like she's in a good space. Arsenal's a good club for her and I'm excited to follow her journey and her growth. I think the biggest thing with Olivia is her personality and she knows she's a good player but she doesn't if that makes sense. She's very humble, just gets her head down, gets on with it. Doesn't make her sing or dance about anything. I think that's a unique trait that she's got and the scary thing is It's like, it's hardly going to get better. That humbleness was there for everyone to see inside the Manchester Opera House last month when she was named the PFA Young Player of the Year.

14:46The winner's a history-making star who has become the first woman to score at Anfield and the world's most expensive player. The Women's Young Player of the Year is Olivia Smith. Come up and join us on stage. Honestly, I was shocked myself. It's a completely different kind of game style compared to when I was in Portugal So for me to kind of get off on the right foot was really exciting for me And to build up my confidence throughout that first half of the season And then to really kick off in the second half Yeah, it was great and to have amazing teammates and amazing staff And the amazing fans to push us through Will this attention change her?

15:22She just wants to play football You know, if you look at what she's done at 15 years old Representing a national team breaking record And she just took everything in her stride. And I think that's the one thing about the family is it's a close-knit family. And she'll just get her head down and let her feet do the talking. I think that's brilliant because it gives you almost like a freedom. And you don't fear anything. And you're a bit carefree in terms of just waking up in the morning on a game day and just can't wait to play. You know, you're almost like that kid in the playground, which I think is such a great space to be in.

15:57I believe you have to love what you do. and the more you love what you do, the more you wake up every day inspired and motivated and committed to get better. So she's just going to continue on that road of getting better. And I'm excited to watch her. I can't wait to see the first game of the season. What hasn't been lost on anyone are the sacrifices that have already been made by this record-breaking 21-year-old just to get to this point. Leaving school early, missing graduation ceremonies, living abroad on her own, putting her football ambitions ahead of all those academic and social benchmarks.

16:30Here's her dad, Sean, again. As a young girl, you know, she missed a lot of parties. She missed her graduation. She missed sleepovers. And it was hard, you know, especially as a dad. You know, you're hearing people say, well, you know, you're not letting her be a child and you're pushing her too much but what people didn't or don't understand is that she wanted it just as much and you know there was a little saying we'd say is that you know what like she matched my crazy where even though I wanted she wanted it more than I did and that's another thing you can't want it more than your child your child has to want it but if you guys match it becomes a beautiful thing.

17:20Olivia, she manifested a lot of this herself. She wrote this all out. I want to be a legend. I want to play pro. This is at like seven, eight years old. So all I believe that her mother and I did was try to facilitate her dream. Those journals and diaries Olivia kept full of match reports, what she could improve, goals scored and wanting to become that legend her dad talks about, remain in the family home. Paige is full of her dreams and quotes that she's used as motivation and how to live her life so far. He still shows them, reflecting with pride. Like you bring back memories. We had a quote that would say, the vision of a champion is bent over, drenched in sweat, to the point of exhaustion when nobody's looking.

18:10And that was over her bed for years.

18:15So as we head into the start of a new WSL, you can watch one of the most exciting young talents in women's football live on Sky Sports. She's the kind of player who can make things happen out of nothing. There's a space for Smith. Smith with the shot, and what a brilliant start to this game. We're all very proud of Olivia, and it seems like these achievements happen now on a monthly, monthly basis. you know, biggest transfer, young player of the year. Before that, it was youngest to play for the Canadian national team and on and on and on. Yeah, I mean, any time I hear something from Liv, I just feel a lot of pride.

18:55I'm happy for her family. I'm just happy that I was a little part of her development growing up. I think she'll turn maybe some of them draws and defeats that they had into wins because she can win a game on her own. And I think if I look at Arsenal's team this year, if you're looking at the players that they brought in, they're a very, very strong side. And I think they've pushed Chelsea all the way. She can strike off both feet. So she definitely knows where to go. Up steps the Canadian and finishes. I played in a slightly different era, but there was still the same kind of pressures and demands.

19:29What I just say is make sure you've got the right people on your bus. Make sure you're surrounded by the right people that are going to protect you, support you, challenge you when you're not getting things right. When you go to Arsenal, buddy up with someone that understands what it is to be a pro. Someone like Kim Little that have got longevity, that understand the day-to-day demands of the game and learn everything you can and soak everything up because it's just going to help you moving forward. It was a team effort. Real football-minded people that really got it. That really understood the potential that we had here.

20:03That understood our crazy, as we like to call it. That's Olivia's dad, Sean, and this has been Our Crazy, a Sky Sports podcast written and presented by me, Juliet Farrington, with sound design and production from Chessie Bent. We'll leave you with this from Olivia Smith, the first million pound signing in women's football. At the end of the day, a price tag is price tag. It's not really something I'm focused on. I'm just focused on being on the pitch, learning from a great set of players. I think it's also great to see the development of women's football and that price going up as well. So it's an honour.

20:43You walked into the commentary box, giving it the biggest name drop of all time. Ishigua texts me saying Chris Martin wants your number. And I was like, what, the former New Zealand fast bowler? But she went, no, Chris Martin from Colquay wants your number. I thought this was a wind-up. And I get a text from Chris Martin saying, I love the pod I'd love to meet you and Af and I still think it's a wind up so thank you Chris for following us and listening to our nonsense I'm Mike Atherton I'm Nasser Hussain follow Sky Sports Cricket or get your podcasts the usual way however you get them we will be there