Sofia Sakalis

Last updated

Sofia Sakalis
Personal information
Full name Sofia Sakalis
Date of birth (2002-07-11) 11 July 2002 (age 22)
Place of birth East Melbourne, Australia
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Melbourne Victory
Number 5
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2017–2021 Melbourne City 5 (0)
2021–2024 Perth Glory 49 (3)
2024– Melbourne Victory 0 (0)
International career‡
2016–2017 Australia U-17 8 (12)
2018– Australia U-20 2 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 28 May 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 31 October 2018

Sofia Sakalis (born 11 July 2002) is an Australian soccer player who plays for Melbourne Victory in the A-League Women. She has represented Australia in the Australia U-17 and Australia U-20. Sakalis plays in the attacking midfielder position.

Contents

Early life

Sakalis, who is of Greek-Australian background, showed interest in soccer at the age of three and began playing two years later. [1] [2] When she first started playing, coaches assigned her to teams with boys her age but advanced her to play with older boys. [1] At age 13, her performance at the National Championships earned her call-ups to three training camps with the Junior Matildas, Australia's under-17 national team. [1]

Club career

Melbourne City, 2017–2021

After training with Melbourne City in 2015–16, Sakalis signed with the team for the 2017–18 season at the age of 15. [3] She made her debut for the club during the team's 5–2 win over the Newcastle Jets on 12 November. [4] [5]

Perth Glory, 2021–2024

Sofia signed a 2-year deal with Perth Glory ahead of the 2021–22 A-League Women season. [6] In August 2024, Sakalis announced that she had left the club. [7]

Melbourne Victory, 2024–

In August 2024, Sakalis joined Melbourne Victory. [8]

National Premier League

Sakalis was awarded Football Victoria's Gold Medal Award for the best player of 2022.

International career

Sakalis competed with the Junior Matildas [9] [10] at the 2017 AFC U-16 Women's Championship qualification tournament in Vietnam where they finished first in their group with an undefeated record. [11] During the team's first group match against Palestine, Sakalis scored five goals, [12] and scored a total of 11 goals over 5 games. [13] She was the top scorer at the qualifying tournament, helping Australia secure a place at the 2017 AFC U-16 Women's Championship in Thailand. [11] [14]

Honours

Sakalis was named 2016 Sport Stars of the Year with Olympic boxer Jason Whateley by the Whitehorse Leader. [15]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aivi Luik</span> Australian soccer player

Aivi Belinda Kerstin Luik is an Australian soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Swedish club BK Häcken FF. She represented the Australia national team, making over 30 appearances.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lisa De Vanna</span> Australian soccer player

Lisa Marie De Vanna is an Australian former professional soccer player who played as a forward. She played for Adelaide Sensation, Western Waves, Doncaster Rovers Belles, AIK, Perth Glory, Washington Freedom, Brisbane Roar, magicJack, Newcastle Jets, Linköping, Sky Blue FC, Melbourne Victory, Boston Breakers, Washington Spirit, Melbourne City, North Shore Mariners, Orlando Pride, Canberra United, South Melbourne, Sydney FC, and Fiorentina as well as representing the Australian national team 150 times. She is noted for her pace and dribbling skills. She has been regularly considered one of the greatest female footballers in the world; football analyst and former Socceroo Craig Foster stated that she "ran on jet-fuel; burning up twice as fast, but with incredible impact."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lydia Williams</span> Australian soccer player

Lydia Grace Yilkari Williams is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as a goalkeeper for A-League Women club Melbourne Victory. She is a former member of the Australia national team.

Ashleigh Sykes is an Australian international football player, who last played for Canberra United FC in the A-League Women and has previously played for Portland Thorns FC in the National Women's Soccer League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laura Brock</span> Australian soccer player (born 1989)

Laura Colleen Gloria Brock is an Australian soccer player who played for EA Guingamp in the Division 1 Féminine in 2020/21. She made her debut for the national team in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caitlin Foord</span> Australian footballer (born 1994)

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steph Catley</span> Australian soccer player (born 1994)

Stephanie-Elise Catley is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Women's Super League club Arsenal and the Australia national team. She can play in many positions in defence, such as left-back, centre-back or sweeper.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teigen Allen</span> Australian soccer player

Teigen Jacqueline Allen is a retired Australian soccer player who played for Sydney FC, Western Sydney Wanderers, Melbourne City, Melbourne Victory, and Newcastle Jets in the Australian A-League Women, for the Western New York Flash in the American National Women's Soccer League, for Vålerenga in the Norwegian Toppserien, and for the Australia women's national soccer team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tameka Yallop</span> Australian soccer player

Tameka Yallop is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Brisbane Roar in the Australian A-League Women. She previously played for the Boston Breakers in the WPSL Elite, German Frauen-Bundesliga club 1. FFC Frankfurt, Japanese Nadeshiko League club Iga F.C. Kunoichi, Swedish Damallsvenskan club Mallbackens, Brisbane Roar in the Australian W-League, West Ham United in the FA Women's Super League, Brann in the Norwegian Toppserien, and has been a member of the Australian national team since 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emily Gielnik</span> Australian soccer player

Emily Gielnik is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as a forward for Melbourne Victory and the Australia women's national team. She previously played for Aston Villa W.F.C. in England, Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory in her native Australia, Liverpool in England, Urawa Red Diamonds in Japan, Avaldsnes IL in Norway, Bayern Munich in Germany, and Vittsjö GIK in Sweden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alanna Kennedy</span> Australian football (soccer) player (born 1995)

Alanna Stephanie Kennedy is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as a defender for Women's Super League club Manchester City and the Australia national team. Kennedy is recognised 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.

Grace Macintyre is an Australian soccer player who last played as a defender for the Newcastle Jets in the Australian W-league.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Chidiac</span> Australian soccer player (born 1999)

Alexandra Carla Chidiac is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for A-League Women side Melbourne Victory, and the Australia women's national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Remy Siemsen</span> Australian soccer player (born 1999)

Remy Dianne Siemsen is an Australian professional soccer player who plays for Kristianstads DFF in the Damallsvenskan and the Australia national team. She has represented Australia on the under-20 national team. Following her debut season in the W-League at the age of 16, she was named W-League Young Footballer of the Year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amy Sayer</span> Australian soccer player (born 2001)

Amy Joan Irene Sayer is an Australian soccer player for Kristianstads DFF in the Damallsvenskan, the Swedish first division. She primarily plays as an attacking midfielder but was also deployed as a defensive midfielder in the under-20s national team. She is known for her vision, passing, all round technical ability, and her ability to play and score with both feet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rachel Lowe (soccer)</span> Australian soccer player

Rachel Georgia Wehl Lowe is an Australian soccer player who plays as a forward or midfielder for Melbourne Victory in A-League Women and internationally for the Australia national team. She previously played for Western Sydney Wanderers and Sydney FC in Australia and UCLA Bruins in US college soccer. She made her debut for Australia in 2018 against China.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kyra Cooney-Cross</span> Australian football player

Kyra Lillee Cooney-Cross is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Women's Super League club Arsenal and the Australia women's national team. She has previously played for Hammarby IF in the Damallsvenskan, as well as Western Sydney Wanderers and Melbourne Victory in the W-League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamilla Rankin</span> Australian soccer player

Jamilla Sofia Rankin is an Australian soccer player who plays for TSG Hoffenheim in the Frauen-Bundesliga. She has previously played for Brisbane Roar and Melbourne Victory in the A-League Women.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Courtney Nevin</span> Australian soccer player (born 2002)

Courtney Jade Nevin is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as a full-back for English Women's Super League club Leicester City, and the Australia women's national team. She has previously played for Western Sydney Wanderers and Melbourne Victory in the W-League, as well as Damallsvenskan side Hammarby IF.

Rasamee "Susan" Phonsongkham is a soccer player who plays as a midfielder or attacker for Perth Glory. Born in Thailand, she is an Australia youth international.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Komarkowski, Antonia (21 June 2017). "Sofia Sakalis 15-year-old Soccer star". Greek City Times. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  2. ↑ "City sign trio for Westfield W-League season". W-League. 24 September 2017. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  3. ↑ "Complete preview for each W-League team for season 2017/18". News.com.au. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  4. ↑ "S. Sakalis". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  5. ↑ "A day to remember for Sakalis and Muldeary". Melbourne City FC. 17 November 2017. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  6. ↑ "Midfield duo board w-league 2021/22 campaign". Perth Glory. 21 July 2021. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  7. ↑ Sakalis, Sofia (17 August 2024). "For 3 seasons Perth has been my home, a huge thank you to all my teammates, staff and supporters, that have made it so special. @perthgloryfc will always be a club and place I treasure" – via Instagram.
  8. ↑ "Melbourne Victory signs Sofia Sakalis". Melbourne Victory . 29 August 2024.
  9. ↑ Stogiannou, George (5 August 2016). "Sakalis selected for Junior Matildas in AFC qualifying tournament in Vietnam". Neos Kosmos. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  10. ↑ "Juric names squad for AFC U-16 qualifiers". Westfield Matildas. 3 August 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  11. 1 2 "Junior Matildas complete qualifiers with perfect record". The Women's Game. 3 December 2017. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  12. ↑ "Junior Matildas' easy win in Vietnam". Westfield Matildas. 25 August 2016. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  13. ↑ Turner, David (25 September 2016). "Vermont South's Sofia Sakalis is a rising soccer star with the world at her feet". Whitehorse Leader. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  14. ↑ "World champions Korea DPR target Asian treble". FIFA. 8 September 2017. Archived from the original on 9 September 2017. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  15. ↑ Naughtin, Paddy (22 November 2016). "Soccer star Sofia Sakalis and Olympic boxer Jason Whateley named 2016 Whitehorse Leader Sport Stars". Whitehorse Leader. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
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.