In a heartfelt message to her teammates, Clare Polkinghorne, the Matildas’ most capped player, has announced her retirement from international football after 18 years and 167 appearances. Her final match will take place on November 28th at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane against Brazil.
“Hey girls, it’s Polks here. I just wanted you all to hear it from me first, that I’ve decided to retire from international football at the end of this year,” she shared.
Reflecting on her time with the team, Clare stated, “It’ll take a while for me to process everything that’s happened in my career, and all things that I’ve been a part of. It’s been a special 18 and a half years in the Matildas’ jersey, and it’s something that I’m incredibly proud of. I’m just really thankful that I got the opportunity to do what I love for so long and to represent this great team for so long.”
The decision was challenging but came after discussions with family and former players. “I’ve given everything that I have for this jersey. Mentally, physically, emotionally,” she added.
As she transitions to life after the Matildas, Clare acknowledges the change ahead: “There are going to be so many things I miss… Being a professional athlete and being a Matilda, but mostly, I’ll miss the relationships that I’ve built along the way and the experiences I’ve had with teammates and staff.”
Clare plans to carry the team’s “Never Say Die” attitude with her, saying, “The biggest lesson the team has taught me is to never give up. It’s been a trademark of the Matildas for so long, our ‘Never Say Die’ attitude. That will be a part of my life forever. No matter what happens – the highs, the lows – you keep pushing and you keep improving, and hopefully, you can come out on top in the end.”
With her last match in her home state, Clare said, “It’s really special to be able to finish off my career there.”
Looking ahead, she’s excited about coaching. “I love this game, and I have played my whole life, so it’s going to be really important that I’m still involved in the game. It has given me so much so I’d really like to be able to give back in some way. I love working towards things. I love working with people and in a team. So I think coaching is the natural profession for me and something that I’m really excited about challenging myself with.”
Thank you, Clare, for your incredible contributions to women’s soccer! We can’t wait to see what you do next!
Upcoming Matches
CommBank Matildas v Brazil
Date: Thursday, 28 November 2024
Kick-off: 8:00pm local / 9:00pm AEDT
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Broadcast: 10, 10 Bold, 10Play & Paramount+
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CommBank Matildas v Brazil
Date: Sunday, 1 December 2024
Kick-off: 6:35pm local / 7:35pm AEDT
Venue: Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
Broadcast: 10, 10 Bold, 10Play & Paramount+
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CommBank Matildas v Chinese Taipei
Date: Wednesday, 4 December 2024
Kick-off: 8.00pm AEDT
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Broadcast: 10, 10 Bold, 10Play & Paramount+
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CommBank Matildas v Chinese Taipei
Date: Saturday, 7 December 2024
Kick-off: 7.30pm AEDT
Venue: GMHBA Stadium, Geelong
Broadcast: 10, 10 Bold, 10Play & Paramount+
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Read her full statement here.
