Clare Elizabeth Polkinghorne (born 1 February 1989) is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Swedish Damallsvenskan club Kristianstads DFF and the Australia national team. She became Australia's most capped player in February 2023. On 2 October 2024 she announced her retirement from international football, effective in December, but will continues her club career at Kristianstad.
 Polkinghorne playing for Australia at the 2017 Algarve Cup | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Clare Elizabeth Polkinghorne | ||
| Date of birth | 1 February 1989 | ||
| Place of birth | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia | ||
| Height | 1.71 m (5 ft 7 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Kristianstads DFF | ||
| Number | 4 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Wynnum Wolves | |||
| Capalaba Bulldogs | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2003 | Brisbane Toro | ||
| 2004 | Queensland Lions | ||
| 2004–2008 | Queensland Academy of Sport | ||
| 2008–2021 | Brisbane Roar | 139 | (17) |
| 2014 | → INAC Kobe Leonessa (loan) | ||
| 2015 | Portland Thorns | 9 | (0) |
| 2018–2019 | Houston Dash | 18 | (0) |
| 2020 | Avaldsnes IL | 15 | (1) |
| 2021–2023 | Vittsjö GIK | 56 | (7) |
| 2024– | Kristianstads DFF | 8 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2006–2007 | Australia U-20 | 14 | (0) |
| 2006–2024 | Australia | 167 | (16) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 25 May 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 3 June 2024 | |||
Early life and education
editClare Elizabeth Polkinghorne was born in Brisbane, Queensland, on 1 February 1989.[1]
Club Career
editINAC Kobe Leonessa
editFor the 2014 season, Polkinghorne was loaned to INAC Kobe Leonessa in Japan.[2]
Portland Thorns
editPolkinghorne signed for Portland Thorns in the National Women's Soccer League after the 2015 World Cup.[3] Portland Thorns waived Polkinghorne in February 2016.[4]
Brisbane Roar
editOn 7 January 2017, Polkinghorne become the first player to play 100 club games in the W-League, all of which have been played for Brisbane Roar.[5] In December 2020, Polkinghorne re-signed with Brisbane Roar after spending the off-season at Avaldsnes.[6]
Houston Dash (2018–2019)
editOn 7 June 2018, Polkinghorne signed with the Houston Dash.[7]
Vittsjö GIK (2021–2023)
editPolkinghorne signed for Swedish Damallsvenskan club Vittsjö GIK on 19 March 2021.[8]
Kristianstads DFF (2024–)
editOn 25 December 2023, Polkinghorne joined Kristianstads DFF for the 2024 Damallsvenskan season.[9]
International career
editPolkinghorne first represented the Australia national team in 2006 and has played more than 160 matches, scoring 16 goals. She played in both the 2007 World Cup[10][11] and 2011 World Cup and was an unused squad member during the 2015 World Cup.
Polkinghorne was selected for the Australian Matildas football team which qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The Matildas advanced to the quarter-finals with one victory and a draw in the group play. In the quarter-finals they beat Great Britain 4-3 after extra time. However, they lost 1–0 to Sweden in the semi-final and were then beaten 4–3 in the bronze medal playoff by USA.[12]
In February 2023, Polkinghorne became the most capped Matilda ever with her 152nd appearance, after surpassing the previous record set by Cheryl Salisbury. She scored a goal against the Czech Republic in the game.[13]
On 4 June 2024, Polkinghorne was named in the Matildas team which qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympics, her third Olympic games selection.[14]
Retirement
editPolkinghorne announced her retirement from international football on 2 October 2024, effective in December, after the Matildas play Brazil in her hometown of Brisbane. She will continue her club career at Kristianstads, at the same time working towards attaining a coaching licence.[15]
As of October 2024[update] she had earned 167 caps for the Matildas, more than any other player.[16]
Career statistics
editInternational goals
editHonours
editQueensland Sting
Brisbane Roar
Australia
- AFF Women's Championship: 2008
- AFC Women's Asian Cup: 2010
- AFC Olympic Qualifying Tournament: 2016
- Tournament of Nations: 2017
- FFA Cup of Nations: 2019
Individual
- 2012–13 Julie Dolan Medal: Best player in the 2012–13 W-League
- 2017–18 Julie Dolan Medal: Best player in the 2017–18 W-League (jointly with Sam Kerr)
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Profile with news, career statistics and history". Soccerway. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
- ^ "Clare Polkinghorne signs with INAC Kobe". The Women's Game. 18 June 2014.
- ^ "Thorns FC sign defender Clare Polkinghorne". National Women's Soccer League. 29 June 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
- ^ "Thorns FC acquire defender Katherine Reynolds from Washington Spirit in exchange for defender Alyssa Kleiner". Portland Timbers. 2 February 2016. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
- ^ "Polks first to reach century". Football Federation Australia. 9 January 2017. Archived from the original on 13 January 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
- ^ "Clare Polkinghorne signs on for 13th Westfield W-League campaign". Brisbane Roar. 14 December 2020.
- ^ "Houston Dash sign DF Clare Polkinghorne". 7 June 2018.
- ^ "Swedish switch for Westfield Matilda Clare Polkinghorne". Matildas. Football Australia. 19 March 2021.
- ^ "Clare Polkinghorne moves to Kristianstads DFF in Sweden". Matildas. Football Australia. 25 December 2023.
- ^ "Player profile – Clare Polkinghorne". Football Federation Australia. Archived from the original on 10 October 2012. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
- ^ "FIFA Player Statistics – Clare Polkinghorne". FIFA. Archived from the original on 4 October 2008. Retrieved 20 February 2009.
- ^ "Australian Olympic Team for Tokyo 2021". The Roar. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
- ^ "Clare Polkinghorne Leads Matildas to Paris 2024". Wynnum Today. 4 July 2024. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
- ^ "History making Matildas team selected for Paris Olympics". Matildas. Football Australia. 4 June 2024.
- ^ "Matildas veteran Clare Polkinghorne announces retirement after career spanning almost two decades". ABC News (Australia) . 2 October 2024. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
- ^ "Polkinghorne to retire from Matildas duty". FIFA. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
- ^ Esamie, Thomas. "Women's National Soccer League Playoffs". Retrieved 21 September 2020.
External links
edit- Clare Polkinghorne at Soccerway