Melbourne City FC (W-League)

Last updated

Melbourne City FC (W-League)
Full nameMelbourne City Women Football Club
Founded2015;6 years ago (2015)
Ground Frank Holohan Soccer Complex
AAMI Park
Capacity2,000
30,035
Manager Rado Vidosic
League W-League
2020–21 7th of 9
Website Club website
Soccerball current event.svg Current season
Departments of Melbourne City
Football pictogram.svg Football pictogram.svg Football pictogram.svg
Football
(Men's) 		Football
(Women's) 		Football
(Youth Men's)

Melbourne City Women Football Club, also known as the Melbourne City Women or simply as City, represents Melbourne City in the W-League, the top division soccer league in Australia. Founded in 2015, the club has its training and administration based at the City Football Academy in Melbourne and plays matches at the Frank Holohan Soccer Complex in Dandenong and at AAMI Park in the Melbourne city centre. The current manager of the team is Rado Vidošić. [1]

Contents

History

Following on from their purchase of and investment into Manchester City in England, City Football Group turned their eyes to investment into the women's game as well, funding a serious overhaul of the Manchester club's female affiliate. [2] Only months after their takeover of the men's team Melbourne City FC, they followed likewise on the women's side, contacting the FFA regarding entering a team into the W-League to be affiliated to the men's Melbourne side. [3]

After a year of negotiations, their involvement was sealed with an announcement that a women's team competing under the name Melbourne City FC would compete in the W-League as of the beginning of the 2015–16 season. [3]

Four championships and two premierships (2015–20)

Melbourne City CEO Scott Munn revealed that his club had been in consultation with Football Federation Australia (FFA) for over 12 months regarding the introduction of a new W-League side. [4] In July 2015, Melbourne City Women's FC made Matildas co-captain Lisa De Vanna their first-ever signing. She is widely regarded as one of the world's best women's strikers. [5] After De Vanna, the club's next foundation signings were Laura Alleway and Brianna Davey. In September 2015, Young Matildas Larissa Crummer, Alex Chidiac, Beattie Goad and former Adelaide United defender Monique Iannella joined the club. [6] Matilda Steph Catley also signed up in September. Regarded as a Matlidas' fan favourite, Catley created history when she was voted as the first female to appear on the cover of the video game FIFA 16. [7]

The club created history in its inaugural 2015–16 season, winning all 12 of its regular season games to become Premiers (regular-season winners) and becoming Champions by winning the 2016 W-League Grand Final, completing a perfect season. [8] In the following season, City suffered a six-match winless run during the middle part of the season before storming back into the finals series and claiming a second successive championship in the 2017 Grand Final. This achievement meant the club was equal with several other clubs for the greatest number of championships won in the league. [9] The club then eclipsed this record the following season when it defeated Sydney FC in the 2018 W-League Grand Final making it 3 championships [10] in a row.

City had an undefeated 2019/20 season, with 11 wins and one draw, and secured their second premiership. Under Head Coach Rado Vidošić, and with elite talent on the pitch such as the returning Steph Catley and new players Kyah Simon and Claire Emslie, the team went on to win the double following wins over Western Sydney Wanderers and Sydney FC in the 2020 Finals Series. Consequently, City became the first team in W-League history to secure four championships. [11]

Stadium

As of the 2020–21 W-League season, Melbourne City Women play most of their home matches at the Frank Holohan Soccer Complex [12] (2,000 capacity), home ground of Dandenong City SC. The club also typically plays one or two home matches and finals at AAMI Park (30,050 capacity) near the city centre, home stadium of the men's team. [13]

Between 2014 and 2019, the club split home games between CB Smith Reserve (2,500 capacity) in Fawkner and John Ilhan Memorial Reserve in Broadmeadows.

Players

First-team squad

As of 27 December 2020

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos.NationPlayer
4 DF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Chelsea Blissett
5 DF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Tori Tumeth
7 DF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Julia Sardo
10 FW Flag of Japan.svg  JPN Chinatsu Kira
12 FW Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Harriet Withers
14 MF Flag of France.svg  FRA Margot Robinne
15 DF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Emma Checker (captain)
18 DF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Leah Davidson
19 DF Flag of Serbia.svg  SRB Tyla-Jay Vlajnic
No.Pos.NationPlayer
20 DF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Lia Muldeary
22 DF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Naomi Thomas-Chinnama
23 GK Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Melissa Barbieri
— GK Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Sally James
— MF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Rhianna Pollicina
— DF Flag of New Zealand.svg  NZL Rebekah Stott
— DF Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Kaitlyn Torpey
— FW Flag of Australia (converted).svg  AUS Hannah Wilkinson

Former players

For notable current and former players, see Category:Melbourne City FC (W-League) players.

Management

Current technical staff

PositionName
Head Coach Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rado Vidosic
Assistant Coach Flag of Australia (converted).svg Melissa Barbieri
Team Manager Flag of Australia (converted).svg Louisa Bisby

Managerial history

NameNationalityFromTo
Joe Montemurro [14] Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia1 July 20154 January 2017
Jess Fishlock [15] Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Wales5 January 201731 March 2017
Patrick Kisnorbo [16] Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia1 July 201730 June 2018
Rado Vidošić [17] Flag of Australia (converted).svg Australia1 July 2018—

Honours

Domestic

Winners (2): 2015–16, 2019–20
Winners (4): 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020

Notable former players

Below is a list of notable players for Melbourne City. Generally, this list includes former players that have played 50 or more first-class matches for the club, have at least one senior international cap, and/or have made significant contributions to the club's history. For a full list of current and former players see Category:Melbourne City FC (W-League) players.

See also

Related Research Articles

W-League (Australia) Top womens football league in Australia

The W-League is the top-division Women's association football league in Australia. The W-League was established in 2008 by Football Federation Australia and was originally composed of eight teams of which seven had an affiliation with an existing A-League club. As of the 2021—22 season, the league is contested by ten teams.

Lydia Williams Australian international football (soccer) goalkeeper

Lydia Grace Yilkari Williams is an Australian soccer player who currently plays as a goalkeeper for Arsenal in England's FA Women's Super League (WSL) and the Australia women's national soccer team. She previously played for Melbourne City and Canberra United in Australia's W-League; Reign FC, Houston Dash and the Western New York Flash in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) in the United States; and Piteå IF in Sweden's Damallsvenskan.

Melbourne Victory FC is an Australian women's soccer team affiliated with Melbourne Victory FC and Football Federation Victoria. Founded in 2008, the team is one of the representatives of Melbourne in Australia's top-tier domestic competition – the Westfield W-League.

Laura Brock Australian soccer player

Laura Brock is an Australian soccer player who plays for EA Guingamp in the Division 1 Féminine. She made her debut for the national team in 2010.

The PFA Footballer of the Year Awards is an annual award ceremony created to formally recognise the most outstanding Australian footballers playing abroad or in the A-League, as well as foreign players playing in the A-League. The inaugural ceremony took place on 11 June 2009 in Sydney.

Emily van Egmond Australian international footballer

Emily Louise van Egmond is an Australian footballer who plays as a midfielder for the Australia national team. She previously played for German side 1. FFC Frankfurt and VfL Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga, Danish side Fortuna Hjørring in the Elitedivisionen, Chicago Red Stars and Orlando Pride in the NWSL, West Ham United in the FA Women's Super League, as well as Canberra United, Western Sydney Wanderers, Newcastle Jets and Melbourne City in Australia's W-League.

Caitlin Foord Australian international football (soccer) player

Caitlin Jade Foord is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as a forward for FA Women's Super League club Arsenal and the Australian national team, the Matildas. She became the youngest Australian to play at a World Cup when she represented Australia at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup at the age of 16.

Steph Catley Australian international football (soccer) player (born 26 January 1994)

Stephanie-Elise "Steph" Catley is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Arsenal and the Australian national team, the Matildas. She previously played for Reign FC, Orlando Pride, and Portland Thorns FC in the American National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) as well as Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City in the Australian W-League.

Alanna Kennedy Australian football (soccer) player (born 21 January 1995)

Alanna Stephanie Kennedy is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Manchester City in the English FA Women's Super League, as well as the Australia national team. Kennedy is recognized as being a versatile, technical player and is a right-footed free kick specialist. Known on the international level as a centre back, Kennedy also plays in the midfielder position.

Alex Chidiac Australian international soccer player

Alexandra Carla Chidiac is an Australian international soccer player who plays as a midfielder for JEF United Chiba and for the Australia national team.

The 2015–16 Melbourne City FC W-League season was the club's inaugural season in the W-League, following the announcement of the team's formation on 13 May 2015. The team is based at the City Football Academy, training on the Academy Pitches at La Trobe University and playing home games at both AAMI Park and CB Smith Reserve.

The 2017–18 Melbourne City FC W-League season was the club's third season in the W-League, the premier competition for women's football in Australia. The team was based at the City Football Academy at La Trobe University and played home games at both AAMI Park and CB Smith Reserve. The club was managed by former Melbourne City men's player Patrick Kisnorbo who was the assistant coach in the previous season. Jess Fishlock, who was a player-coach in the previous season, returned to the club and was Kisnorbo's assistant coach.

The 2018 W-League Grand Final was the final match of the 2017–18 W-League season and deciding the champions of women's football in Australia for the season.

This is a list of Australian soccer transfers for the 2018–19 W-League. Only moves featuring at least one W-League club are listed.

The 2018–19 Melbourne City FC W-League season was the club's fourth season in the W-League, the premier competition for women's football in Australia. The team is based at the City Football Academy at La Trobe University and played home games at both AAMI Park and CB Smith Reserve. Melbourne City entered the season having won the past three W-League Grand Finals. This is the first season they were without Jess Fishlock as she joined Olympique Lyonnais instead of playing in the W-League.

The 2019–20 W-League season was the twelfth season of the W-League, the Australian national women's association football competition. Nine teams competed in the league, with most of the players from Australia but 33 of them from 11 other countries.

The 2020 W-League Grand Final was the final match of the 2019–20 W-League season to decide the champions of women's soccer in Australia for the season.

Ally Green is an Australian women's soccer player who plays as a defender for Sydney FC in the W-League.

Jamilla Sofia Rankin is an Australian soccer player who plays for Brisbane Roar in the W-League.

This is a list of Australian soccer transfers for the 2015–16 W-League. Only moves featuring at least one W-League club are listed.

References

  1. ↑ "Melbourne City announcne coaching restructure". thewomensgame.com.au. 19 June 2018.
  2. ↑ "Manchester City aim for Women's Super League success too". BBC . 24 January 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  3. 1 2 "Melbourne City FC set to field W-League team in 2015". melbournecityfc.com.au. 13 May 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  4. ↑ "Melbourne City to join W-League next season". SBS. 14 May 2015.
  5. ↑ "Melbourne City FC signs inaugural W-League player". Football Federation Australia. 14 July 2015.
  6. ↑ "Melbourne City sign four more W-League signings". Football Federation Australia. 10 September 2015.
  7. ↑ "Melbourne City signs Steph Cately for 2015/16 W-League season". Football Federation Australia. 16 September 2015.
  8. ↑ "W-League grand final: Melbourne City beat Sydney FC". ABC News. 31 January 2016.
  9. ↑ "W-League grand final: Melbourne City first club to win two titles in a row". ABC News. 12 February 2017.
  10. ↑ "Melbourne City have clinched a historic W-League three-peat with a 2-0 grand final triumph over Sydney FC". SBS. 18 February 2018.
  11. ↑ "Melbourne City crowned W-League champions after beating Sydney FC". ABC News. 21 March 2020.
  12. ↑ "Westfield W-League Season to kick off December 29 with NEW broadcast agreement". Football Australia. 24 December 2020. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  13. ↑ "Melbourne City FC to create new Etihad City Football Academy Australia in South East Melbourne". Melbourne City FC. 14 December 2020.
  14. ↑ "Melbourne City FC set to field W-League team in 2015". Melbourne City . 9 June 2015.
  15. ↑ "Melbourne City FC Confirms Interim Coaching Mandates". Melbourne City . 6 January 2017.
  16. ↑ Windley, Matt (6 July 2017). "W-League: Patrick Kisnorbo steps up to take the reins at Melbourne City". Herald Sun .
  17. ↑ "Melbourne City announce coaching restructure". The Women's Game. 19 June 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.