Sarah Walsh

Sarah Ann Walsh (born 11 January 1983) is an Australian former soccer player who is Head of Women's Football at Football Australia. A forward, she played for the Australia women's national soccer team from 2004 to 2012.

For the Australian Paralympic athlete, see Sarah Walsh (athlete). For the ESPN sportscaster, see Sara Walsh.

Sarah Walsh
Walsh playing for Sydney FC in 2009
Personal information
Full name Sarah Ann Walsh[1]
Date of birth (1983-01-11) 11 January 1983[1]
Place of birth Camden, New South Wales, Australia
Height 1.57 m (5 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
0000–2008 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 (31)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10 October 2013
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19 September 2012

Early life

Walsh was born in Camden, New South Wales.

Playing career

Women's Professional Soccer, 2009

Walsh was selected in the first round of the Women's Professional Soccer league's international draft in 2009 by Sky Blue FC. On 26 June 2009, Walsh was dealt to the Saint Louis Athletica.[2][3] She had played in 5 games, 4 of them being starts (351 minutes) before being traded. She also added a goal and an assist for Sky Blue FC.

Western Sydney Wanderers FC, 2012–13
Walsh with the Western Sydney Wanderers, 2012

In October 2012, it was announced that Walsh had signed for Western Sydney Wanderers[4] in the Westfield W-League in Australia for the 2012–13 season. She was promptly elected captain by the team members.[5]

International

Walsh represented Australia at the 2004 Summer Olympics, 2006 AFC Women's Asian Cup and the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup.

On 30 August 2012, Walsh announced her international retirement and stated that her last game would be an upcoming friendly match against the United States on 19 September 2012. After scoring a goal in the friendly, Walsh ended her international career when she was substituted out in the 54th minute.[6][7][8]

Sports administration and other roles

Walsh is a representative of the Professional Footballers Association's Matildas Delegates' Committee, alongside Melissa Barbieri, Lauren Colthorpe, Heather Garriock and Kate McShea. On 20 January 2010, the Committee and Football Federation Australia announced a new pay deal for the Matildas to take them through to the 2010 AFC Women's Asian Cup football.[9]

As of 2021, she is Football Australia's Head of Women's Football, Women's World Cup Legacy & Inclusion. In November 2021, she was appointed as co-chair of the inaugural National Indigenous Advisory Group of Football Australia. The group aims at supporting and increasing Indigenous participation in the game.[10]

Personal life

Walsh began dating American soccer player Megan Rapinoe in 2009 while they both played for the WPS. After approximately five years together, Rapinoe and Walsh ended their relationship in 2013.[11] She has since married a woman named Toni.[12]

In June 2011, Walsh was on the cover of the Australian FourFourTwo magazine, along with fellow Matildas Melissa Barbieri, Sam Kerr, Thea Slatyer and Kyah Simon.[13]

Career statistics
Walsh playing for Australia, 2009

International goals

Scores and results list Australia's goal tally first.

#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
118 February 2004Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre, Brisbane, Australia New Zealand2–02–02004 Australia Cup
24 March 2004Govind Park, Ba, Fiji Papua New Guinea4–010–02004 Olympic qualifying
37 July 2004Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico Mexico1–02–1Friendly
42–0
519 October 2005Patriot Stadium, El Paso, United States Mexico1–02–0Friendly
630 May 2006Bob Jane Stadium, Melbourne, Australia Mexico3–04–0Friendly
716 June 2006Shanghai Football Association National Training Centre, Shanghai, China China1–11–2Friendly
816 July 2006Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide, Australia South Korea2–04–02006 AFC Women's Asian Cup
924 July 2006Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide, Australia Thailand3–05–02006 AFC Women's Asian Cup
1029 October 2006Gimhae Stadium, Gimhae, South Korea Netherlands1–01–02006 Peace Queen Cup
1121 February 2007Zhongshan Soccer Stadium, Taipei, Taiwan Myanmar1–02–02008 Olympic qualifying
122–0
1323 February 2007Zhongshan Soccer Stadium, Taipei, Taiwan Uzbekistan5–010–02008 Olympic qualifying
1425 February 2007Zhongshan Soccer Stadium, Taipei, Taiwan Chinese Taipei3–08–12008 Olympic qualifying
157 April 2007BCU International Stadium, Coffs Harbour, Australia Hong Kong1–015–02008 Olympic qualifying
162–0
1715 April 2007Zhongshan Soccer Stadium, Taipei, Taiwan Chinese Taipei2–010–02008 Olympic qualifying
184–0
196–0
2019 July 2007BCU International Stadium, Coffs Harbour, Australia New Zealand1–03–0Friendly
212–0
2212 August 2007BCU International Stadium, Coffs Harbour, Australia Chinese Taipei2–07–02008 Olympic qualifying
2316 August 2007Tianjin Olympic Center Stadium, Tianjin, China China3–23–2Friendly
2412 September 2007Yellow Dragon Sports Center, Hangzhou, China Ghana1–04–12007 FIFA Women's World Cup
251 March 2008Stockland Park, Sunshine Coast, Australia New Zealand1–02–0Friendly
263 May 2008Legion Field, Birmingham, United States United States2–42–5Friendly
2717 February 2010North Harbour Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand New Zealand1–03–0Friendly
282–0
296 March 2010Ballymore Stadium, Brisbane, Australia North Korea1–03–2Friendly
3027 June 2012WIN Stadium, Wollongong, Australia New Zealand1–02–0Friendly
312–0
3219 September 2012Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Denver, United States United States2–12–6Friendly

Honours

Club

Sydney FC:

International
Australia

References
  1. "FIFA Women's World Cup China 2007 – List of Players: Australia" (PDF). FIFA. 15 September 2007. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 September 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. "Sky Blue FC Acquires Hermann Trophy Winner Hanks, Brazilian Internationals Francielle and Renata Costa". Sky Blue FC. 26 June 2009. Archived from the original on 9 June 2012. Retrieved 29 September 2009.
  3. "Athletica missing key players in televised game". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 18 July 2009. Retrieved 29 September 2009.
  4. "Wanderers Women Revealed". The Women's Game. 4 October 2012. Archived from the original on 11 January 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  5. "Westfield W-League: Rnd 1 Squad Announced v Adelaide United". Football Federation Australia. 18 October 2012. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
  6. "Sarah Walsh retires from international football Writer". Football Federation Australia. 30 August 2012. Archived from the original on 23 September 2012. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
  7. Migliaccio, Val (20 September 2012). "Matilda waltzes away". The Advertiser. Adelaide. p. 89.
  8. "Matildas downed in Walsh farewell". The Women's Game. 21 September 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  9. "New Pay Deal Agreed For Matildas". FourFourTwo Australia. 20 January 2010. Archived from the original on 23 January 2010. Retrieved 16 February 2010.
  10. Rugari, Vince (8 November 2021). "'It's groundbreaking': Football is finally getting serious about Indigenous Australia". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
  11. Snarker, Dorothy (3 July 2012). "Megan Rapinoe comes out, officially, to OUT". After Ellen. Archived from the original on 1 January 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  12. Vinall, Marnie (21 July 2023). "There is a word this former Matilda's wife has banned her from using". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
  13. "Kyah: Now I've Got Your Attention..." Four Four Two. Archived from the original on 16 August 2011. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
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