Matildas star Caitlin Foord has signed a one-year contract extension for Perth Glory Women.
Foord signs on after her highly impressive showing in the FIFA Women’s World Cup, including her highly-praised performance against Brazil. The 20-year-old’s defensive performance against 5-time World Women’s Player of the Year Marta was highly praised, as Australia consigned Brazil to their first Round of 16 World Cup exit in 19 years.
Perth Glory Women’s coach Bobby Despotovski was thrilled to retain Foord’s services for the 2015-16 Westfield W-League season.
“This was an easy decision to make,” Despotovski said. “She is an extremely valuable member of the team and last season, she was exceptional on the wing.”
“She brings the whole lot to the club; she’s played for the national team in the World Cup, and she brings direction, leadership, and skills that will separate Glory from losing games and winning games this year.”
Foord was also excited to re-join the Glory for another season, and stated her desire to win the championship this year in the Westfield W-League.
“After the amazing season and the time I had with the club last year, it was hard to not want to come back,” says Foord. “It was such a fun group of girls on and off the field.”
“I haven’t met Bobby Despotovski yet, but I’m looking forward to working with someone new and learning new things.”
“I’m really looking forward to trying to go one step further than we did last year, and that would be winning the championship with the club,” said Foord.
“We fell short last year by going down in the grand final. Obviously we want to get there first, but it would be amazing to win the championship with this club and this group of girls.”
Although just 20-years-old, Foord brings unmatchable experience to Bobby Despotovski’s squad.
Foord incredibly joined Australia’s U17 Women’s team setup at 13, and at age 16 made her Westfield W-League debut for Sydney FC. Foord has gone on to make 59 league appearances, winning 3 trophies, including the Westfield W-League Premiership last season with Glory.
Foord scored on her Matildas debut against New Zealand in May 2011 and became Australia’s youngest ever World Cup footballer at 16 years old. Incredibly, her stellar performance at the 2011 World Cup in Germany saw her recognised as the Best Young Player of the tournament, Asian Young Footballer of the Year and Football Federation Australia’s U20 Footballer of the Year.
Today, Foord has scored 5 times in 34 appearances in Australia’s Green and Gold, and regularly included in the Matildas starting line-up. She is currently in the United States finishing off the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) campaign with New Jersey-based Sky Blue FC.
The Westfield W-League season begins on October 17, for which the fixture list is yet to be released.
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