Caitlin Foord


Caitlin Jade Foord is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as a forward for FA Women's Super League club Arsenal. 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.

Club career

Central Coast Mariners (2009)

Foord was signed by the Central Coast Mariners ahead of the 2009 W-League season from the New South Wales Institute of Sport.

Sydney FC (2010–2014)

With the announcement that the Central Coast Mariners would not field a women's team in the 2010–11 W-League season, Foord, along with fellow Mariners players Teresa Polias, Lydia Vandenbergh, and Renee Rollason, all switched to nearby club, Sydney FC. Foord spent four straight seasons with Sydney FC, she appeared in 44 games and scored 10 goals.

Sky Blue FC (2013–2015)

In March 2013, it was announced that Foord had signed with American team, Sky Blue FC, for the inaugural season of the NWSL. In 2013 she appeared in 15 games, helping Sky Blue to their only playoff appearance in club history. She was named to the 2013 NWSL Second XI.
Foord returned to Sky Blue for the 2014 NWSL Season, she was in the starting lineup for 20 out of her 21 appearances. Sky Blue finished the season in sixth place.
In February 2015 Foord agreed to return to Sky Blue alongside alongside fellow Matildas teammate Samantha Kerr. Due to the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup, they would not join the team until July. She appeared in the final 10 games of the 2015 NWSL season for Sky Blue.
After being listed on Sky Blue's preseason roster for the 2016 NWSL Season, Foord did not participate in preseason training and did not play for Sky Blue during the 2016 season. In December 2016 it was reported that Foord would not play in the NWSL in 2017 either as she was signing with a team in Japan.

Loan to Perth Glory (2014–2016)

In August 2014, it was announced that Foord had signed a one-year deal to join Perth Glory for the 2014 W-League season. In 12 appearances for Perth, Foord scored 5 goals.
Foord re-signed with Perth of the 2015-16 W-League season. On 2 January 2016 Foord suffered a broken collar bone that required surgery. This injury ruled her out for the remainder of the season.

Return to Sydney FC (2016–2017)

On 13 September 2016, Sydney FC announced that Foord had signed with the club. She would be returning to the club where she had previously played for four seasons. In 10 matches for Sydney during the 2016-17 W-League season, she played 766 minutes and scored 2 goals.

Vegalta Sendai Ladies (2017)

In January 2017, Japan Women's Football League club Vegalta Sendai Ladies announced that the club had signed Foord on a one-year deal.

Second return to Sydney FC (2017–2020)

On 15 December 2017, after her season had concluded in Japan, Foord returned to Sydney FC and re-signed for the 2017-18 W-League season. Foord scored 3 goals in 6 games and helped Sydney FC qualify for the playoffs. In the semi-final match against the Newcastle Jets Foord suffered a ruptured Lisfranc ligament which would require surgery. This injury would force her to miss the 2018 Grand Final against Melbourne City. Melbourne won the game 2–0.
In the 2018-19 W-League season, Foord scored her second career W-League hat-trick on 9 December 2018 against the Brisbane Roar. Her three goals helped Sydney to a 5–1 victory, ending their three-game losing streak.
Foord briefly returned to Sydney for the 2019-20 W-League season, scoring 2 goals in 9 appearances before leaving early to pursue an opportunity with Arsenal in January 2020.

Portland Thorns (2018–2019)

On 11 January 2018, Foord's rights in the NWSL were traded from Sky Blue to Seattle Reign FC for Katie Johnson and Rebekah Stott. Her rights were subsequently traded to the Portland Thorns FC along with a 2020 NWSL 2nd Round draft pick in exchange for US international midfielder Allie Long. However, Foord was still playing in the W-League at the time and suffered a serious foot injury in the semi-final that required surgery. As a result she didn't make her debut for the Thorns until 6 August 2018. On 14 April 2019, Foord scored her first goal for Portland, in a 2–0 win over Orlando Pride.
On 8 January 2020, Foord's NWSL rights were traded to Orlando Pride along with Emily Sonnett and two draft picks in exchange for Orlando's No. 1 overall selection in the 2020 NWSL College Draft.

Arsenal (2020–present)

On 24 January 2020, Foord left Sydney FC to sign for FA WSL club Arsenal, becoming the fifth Australian to move to the league during the 2019–20 season. She made her debut for the club on 23 February 2020, scoring in a 2–0 FA Cup victory over second division club Lewes. The following week, Foord made her second appearance, this time playing the full 90 minutes as Arsenal lost the 2020 FA Women's League Cup Final against Chelsea.

International career

As part of the Australian Westfield U16 Women's team, Foord helped the team to progress through to the AFC U17 Women's Championship undefeated by scoring a hat-trick in a match against the Philippines.
Foord made her debut for the Matildas on 12 May 2011 in a friendly against New Zealand in Gosford. She scored a goal in her debut, as Australia won the match 3–0.
At the age of 16, Foord was named to the Matildas squad for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany. Foord started in two of the three group matches as a right back. She then started in the midfield for Australia's quarter-final match against Sweden. She returned to the full-back position after Elyse Perry was substituted for Tameka Butt in the 59th minute. The Matildas were eliminated from the competition after losing the match 3–1. Foord was given the "Best Young Player" award for the tournament.
As a result of her play at the 2011 Women's World Cup, Foord was named AFC Youth Player of the year for 2011.
Foord was named to the Australian roster for the 2014 AFC Women's Asian Cup. She appeared in all 5 matches for Australia and scored a goal in their 2–2 draw against Japan in the group stage. Australia lost 1–0 to Japan in the final, but had already clinched a qualifying spot at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup.
In 2015 Foord was named to her second World Cup squad, this time as a forward. At the 2015 World Cup, Foord played every minute of Australia's five matches, as the Matildas were eliminated in the quarter-finals by AFC rival, Japan.
Foord competed in her first Olympics in 2016. She scored a goal in Australia's 2–2 draw against Germany in the group stage. Australia was eliminated in the quarter-finals by Brazil on penalties.
In December 2016, Foord was named AFC Player of the year, becoming only the second player to win youth and senior player of the year awards.
At the 2017 Tournament of Nations Foord scored two goals against Brazil, en route to a 6–1 Australian victory. Australian won the inaugural edition of the tournament.
Due to the foot injury she suffered in February 2018 during the W-League semi-final, Foord would miss the 2018 Algarve Cup and the 2018 AFC Women's Asian Cup. She made her return to the Matildas line-up at the 2018 Tournament of Nations, where she made three substitute appearances.
Foord scored her first international hat-trick in a friendly game against Chile on 13 November 2018, Australia won the match 5–0.
In May 2019, Foord was named to her third World Cup Team. At the World Cup, Foord played in all four of Australia's matches. She scored a goal in the group stage against Brazil helping Australia overcome a 0–2 deficit to win 3–2. Australia was eliminated by Norway in the Round of 16.

Television and film

In 2013, Foord was featured in an hour-long episode of ESPN's Aussies Abroad entitled, The Matildas, which profiled four Australian national team players and their experience playing internationally. Foord has also starred in the Back Of The Net movie.

Career statistics

Club

International goals

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
112 May 2011Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford, Australia1–03–0Friendly
214 May 2014Thống Nhất Stadium, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam1–02–22014 AFC Women's Asian Cup
312 February 2015Bill McKinlay Park, Auckland, New Zealand3–03–2Friendly
419 May 2015Valentine Sports Park, Sydney, Australia2–04–0Friendly
521 May 2015WIN Stadium, Wollongong, Australia11–011–0Friendly
64 June 2016Moreshead Park Stadium, Ballarat, Australia1–02–0Friendly
74 June 2016Moreshead Park Stadium, Ballarat, Australia2–02–0Friendly
86 August 2016Arena Corinthians, São Paulo, Brazil2–02–22016 Summer Olympics
93 August 2017StubHub Center, Carson, United States2–16–12017 Tournament of Nations
103 August 2017StubHub Center, Carson, United States5–16–12017 Tournament of Nations
119 September 2017McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle, Australia2–13–2Friendly
1213 November 2018McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle, Australia2–05–0Friendly
1313 November 2018McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle, Australia3–05–0Friendly
1413 November 2018McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle, Australia5–05–0Friendly
156 March 2019AAMI Park, Melbourne, Australia3–03–02019 Cup of Nations
164 April 2019Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, United States2–13–5Friendly
1713 June 2019Stade de la Mosson, Montpellier, France1–23–22019 FIFA Women's World Cup
187 February 2020Campbelltown Stadium, Sydney, Australia1–07–02020 Olympic Qualifying
197 February 2020Campbelltown Stadium, Sydney, Australia2–07–02020 Olympic Qualifying
207 February 2020Campbelltown Stadium, Sydney, Australia4–07–02020 Olympic Qualifying

Personal life

Foord, Lindsey Horan, and Emily Sonnett have matching tattoos.

Honors

Club

;Sydney FC
;Perth Glory
;Australia