Sarah Walsh facts for kids
Walsh playing for Sydney FC in 2009
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Sarah Ann Walsh | ||
| Date of birth | 11 January 1983 | ||
| Place of birth | Camden, New South Wales, Australia | ||
| Height | 1.57 m (5 ft 2 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2008 | NSW Institute of Sport | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2008 | Pali Blues | 0 | (0) |
| 2008–2009 | Sydney FC | 2 | (0) |
| 2009 | Sky Blue FC | 5 | (1) |
| 2009 | Saint Louis Athletica | 6 | (0) |
| 2009–2012 | Sydney FC | 21 | (9) |
| 2010 | Boston Breakers | ||
| 2012–2013 | Western Sydney Wanderers | 12 | (3) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2004–2012 | Australia | 70 | (32) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10 October 2013 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19 September 2012 |
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Sarah Ann Walsh (born 11 January 1983) is a former Australian soccer star who now works as the Head of Women's Football at Football Australia. As a player, she was a forward, which means her main job was to score goals. She played for the Australian national team, also known as the Matildas, from 2004 to 2012.
Contents
Early Life
Sarah Walsh was born in Camden, a town in New South Wales, Australia. She showed a talent for soccer from a young age and trained at the NSW Institute of Sport.
A Career on the Field
Walsh had an exciting career, playing for teams in both Australia and the United States.
Playing for Clubs
In 2009, Walsh was chosen to play in the Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) league in the United States. She was first picked by the team Sky Blue FC. During her time there, she scored a goal and had an assist. Later that year, she was traded to the Saint Louis Athletica team.
Walsh also played for Sydney FC in Australia's W-League. In October 2012, she joined the newly formed Western Sydney Wanderers for their first season. Her teammates quickly voted for her to be the team captain.
Representing Australia
Walsh was a key player for Australia's national team, the Matildas. She played in major world events, including the 2004 Summer Olympics, the 2006 AFC Women's Asian Cup, and the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup.
On 30 August 2012, Walsh announced she would retire from playing for Australia. Her final game was a friendly match against the United States. In that last game, she scored a goal before leaving the field in the 54th minute, ending her amazing international career. Over her time with the Matildas, she played in 70 games and scored an impressive 32 goals.
A Leader Off the Field
After her playing career, Walsh continued to be a leader in the world of soccer. She became a representative for the Matildas on a committee for the Professional Footballers Association. This group works to make sure players are treated fairly. In 2010, the committee helped get a new pay deal for the Matildas.
Today, Walsh has a very important job at Football Australia. She is the Head of Women's Football. She also helps prepare for the Women's World Cup and works to make soccer a welcoming sport for everyone. In 2021, she became a co-chair of a group that helps support and encourage Indigenous Australians to get involved in soccer.
Life Outside of Soccer
Walsh was previously in a relationship with American soccer player Megan Rapinoe. She is now married to Toni Knowlson.
Awards and Championships
Club
Sydney FC
- W-League Premiership: 2009
- W-League Championship: 2009
International
Australia
- AFC Women's Asian Cup: 2010
Images for kids
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Walsh playing for Australia in 2009.
