Melissa Barbieri


Melissa Anne Barbieri, and now known as Melissa Hudson, is an Australian international football goalkeeper who plays for Melbourne City in the W-League.

Biography

Before the 2007 World Cup Barbieri played 54 games for Australia.
At 1.68m tall, her height has been questioned by the media in her position at goalkeeper, although has aptly proven herself as a shot-stopper.
She played for Richmond SC, becoming the first female to play in the Australian semi-professional men's league. After gaining experience in the men's league, Barbieri made her debut in goals for the Matildas in September 2002 in a 1–0 win against Canada.
In 2008, she was approached by the US football team, the Boston Renegades. However, the Boston management eventually pursued this no further for the remainder of the season, due to Barbieri's commitments to the Australian national team.
She signed for Melbourne Victory for the inaugural season of the Westfield W-League. Barbieri won the Goalkeeper of the year award in that season.
She was a scholarship holder with the Victorian Institute of Sport.
On 19 February 2010, Barbieri was named captain of the Matildas following the 2009 retirement of Cheryl Salisbury.
In June 2011, Barbieri was on the cover of the Australian FourFourTwo Magazine along with fellow Matilda's Thea Slatyer, Sam Kerr, Kyah Simon and Sarah Walsh.
Barbieri had her first child, a girl, in 2013.
In May 2015 national coach Alen Stajcic surprisingly axed Brianna Davey from Australia's 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup squad, a decision criticised in many quarters, recalling resurgent veteran Barbieri for her fourth World Cup.
In July 2016, Barbieri signed a deal to play one game as a guest for Taroona in the Tasmanian Women's Super League.
Barbieri was appointed coach of Heidelberg United's women's team in October 2016.
In November 2017, she came out of retirement to join Melbourne City on an injury replacement contract, after one of their goalkeepers Emily Shields broke her wrist.
In July 2018, Barbieri was appointed as an assistant coach of the Melbourne City W-League team.

Career highlights

Country

;Australia