UEFA awards for women's 100-cap winners

With the profile of women's football flourishing at its higher levels, the forthcoming UEFA Women's EURO 2017 qualifying competition is set to be used as a platform for UEFA to honour European women footballers who have given long and outstanding service to their country's national team.

UEFA has proposed to its member associations that special ceremonies take place at the qualifying matches, which begin in September, to present awards to female players who have made 100 or more appearances for their national teams. UEFA has bestowed a similar award on male players since 2011.

The award will feature a commemorative cap and medal, to be presented to the players who have reached this milestone. A replica of the cap will also be produced and donated to the players' national associations for promotional purposes.

For future awards, UEFA is proposing that the ceremony takes place at the match at which the player makes her 100th appearance.

This prestigious award to women players was approved by the UEFA Executive Committee last December, after previously receiving the unanimous backing of the UEFA Women's Football Committee and UEFA Football Committee.

Some 120 women players from across Europe have already won 100 caps or more for their country. A considerable number of these have excelled on the international stage in the UEFA Women's EURO and FIFA Women's World Cup.

"The introduction by UEFA of an award to female players for 100 caps underlines the importance of the national teams, and the contribution made by these extraordinary players in representing their country," said Karen Espelund, chairwoman of the UEFA Women's Football Committee.

"The award will add extra value and importance to the national team players and their associations, and will also promote these players as role models for all young girls who have ambitions to represent their country," she added.