Sam Kerr OAM, an Australian professional soccer player, holds the esteemed position as a forward for Chelsea in the FA Women’s Super League and leads the Australia women’s national team as their captain since 2019. Her exceptional talent and skill have earned her a well-deserved reputation as one of the greatest forwards in the history of women’s soccer.
Bio/Wiki
Age-29years
Height- 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in)
Weight- 66 kg
Born- 10 September 1993
Birthplace- East Fremantle, Australia
Full name- Samantha May Kerr
Profession- soccer player
Spouse- Kristie Mewis.
Nationality- Australian
Dates joined- November 2019 (Chelsea F.C. Women), MORE
Current teams: Chelsea F.C. Women (#20 / Forward), Australia women’s national football team (#20 / Forward), Australia
Family
Kerr’s roots trace back to East Fremantle, a suburb of Perth, Western Australia. Her parents, Roxanne (née Regan) and Roger Kerr, have rich sporting backgrounds. Her father, a former Australian rules football player, was born in Calcutta to an English father, a featherweight boxer, and an Indian mother who played basketball. Kerr’s mother comes from a family deeply involved in sports as well, with her father and uncle being professional footballers in the West Australian Football League, and another uncle being a champion jockey who won the prestigious Melbourne Cup in 1966 with Galilee.
Relationship
Currently, Sam Kerr is in a relationship with American soccer player Kristie Mewis. Prior to this, she was involved in a romantic relationship with Nikki Stanton, her former teammate at Perth Glory and Chicago Red Stars.
Career
Sam Kerr’s career is a testament to her extraordinary talent and dedication to soccer. Here are some key points outlining her remarkable journey:
Early Years: Born on September 10, 1993, in East Fremantle, Western Australia, Sam Kerr was exposed to sports from a young age due to her family’s strong sporting background.
Australian Rules Football: Initially, she followed her father and older brother’s footsteps by playing Australian rules football. Her family’s influence in this sport was significant.
Transition to Soccer: At the age of 12, Kerr decided to switch to association football (soccer) due to gender restrictions in Australian rules football, which limited her opportunities.
Emergence of Talent: Recognizing her exceptional athleticism and raw talent, Perth Glory striker Bobby Despotovski spotted her at age 13. He saw great potential in her soccer abilities.
W-League and International Debut: At just 15 years old, Sam Kerr made her debut in both the W-League (Australia’s top-tier women’s soccer league) and the international stage. Her debut performances showcased her immense skill and marked the beginning of an illustrious career.
Rising Star: Kerr quickly rose through the ranks, earning a reputation as one of the most promising young talents in women’s soccer.
Playing for Australia: She became a regular member of the Australian women’s national team, known as the Matildas, and played a pivotal role in their successes in various international competitions.
Overseas Ventures: Seeking new challenges and opportunities, Kerr ventured abroad to play for different clubs, including spells with Sky Blue FC in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) in the United States.
During the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, Sam Kerr delivered a stunning performance, scoring an impressive 5 goals for Australia in their opening match against Indonesia. This remarkable achievement not only led her team to victory but also enabled her to break and surpass the Australian international goal-scoring record. The previous record, held by Tim Cahill with 50 international goals, was surpassed by Kerr, who achieved this feat in just 105 matches, three fewer than Cahill’s 108 international appearances.
Despite Australia’s elimination in the quarterfinals by South Korea, Kerr’s outstanding performance earned her the coveted Golden Boot award. Throughout the tournament, she scored a total of 7 goals in just 4 matches, further solidifying her status as a prolific goal-scorer.
Looking ahead, it was announced on 3 July that Sam Kerr would lead the Matildas as their captain in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. This prestigious tournament will mark her fourth appearance in a World Cup, providing her with another opportunity to showcase her exceptional talent and leadership on the global stage.
International Recognition: Her performances on the global stage earned her recognition as one of the best female soccer players worldwide. She garnered numerous accolades and awards for her outstanding contributions to the sport.
Chelsea FC: In 2019, Sam Kerr made a high-profile move to Chelsea in the FA Women’s Super League, joining one of the top clubs in women’s soccer.
Continued Success: Throughout her career, Kerr has remained a prolific goal-scorer, demonstrating her lethal finishing and goal-scoring prowess.
Role Model and Inspiration: Beyond her on-field achievements, Sam Kerr serves as a role model and inspiration for aspiring young athletes, particularly young girls aspiring to succeed in soccer.
Sam Kerr’s career has been marked by perseverance, hard work, and an unwavering passion for the beautiful game. Her journey from Australian rules football to becoming one of the best female soccer players of all time is a testament to her talent and dedication to the sport she loves.
Achievements/Awards
Sam Kerr’s illustrious career has been adorned with a multitude of accolades, records, and achievements. Here’s a summary of her remarkable accomplishments:
Club Achievements:
- Sydney FC:
- W-League Championship: 2012–13
- Western New York Flash:
- NWSL Shield: 2013
- NWSL Championship runner-up: 2013
- Perth Glory:
- W-League Premiership: 2014
- W-League Championship runner-up: 2014, 2016–17, 2018–19
- Chicago Red Stars:
- NWSL Championship runner-up: 2019
- Chelsea:
- FA Women’s Super League: 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23
- Women’s FA Cup: 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23
- FA Women’s League Cup: 2019–20, 2020–21; runner-up: 2021–22
- FA Women’s Community Shield: 2020
- UEFA Women’s Champions League runner-up: 2020–21
International Achievements:
- Australia:
- AFF U-16 Women’s Championship: 2009
- AFC Women’s Asian Cup: 2010; runner-up: 2014, 2018
- Centenary Cup: 2013
- Cup of Nations: 2019, 2023
Individual Honors:
Sam Kerr has been honored with numerous individual awards throughout her career, including:
- Various W-League awards for Player’s Player of the Year, Goal of the Year, and Female U20 Footballer of the Year.
- PFA Australian Women’s Footballer of the Year multiple times (2013, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022).
- Julie Dolan Medal recipient (2016–17, 2017–18).
- Multiple NWSL awards, including Player of the Week, Player of the Month, Best XI, Golden Boot, and Most Valuable Player.
- Asian Women’s Footballer of the Year (2017).
- Young Australian of the Year (2018).
- ESPY Awards for Best International Women’s Soccer Player and Best NWSL Player ESPY Award.
- Recognition in various “Team of the Year” lineups, including the IFFHS Women’s World Team of the Year.
Records:
Sam Kerr has set several records across different leagues and competitions, including:
- All-time leading scorer for the Australian international female team and overall Australian international team.
- Most goals scored in a calendar year (2022).
- First Australian football player to score a hat-trick at a World Cup (2019).
- Numerous records in W-League, NWSL, FA Women’s Super League, UEFA Women’s Champions League, and other competitions.
Additionally, she became the first female footballer to be chosen for the cover of a FIFA video game, and the first Australian female football player to be nominated for the Ballon d’Or. She has also placed in the top three of both the Ballon d’Or and The Best FIFA Player awards. Moreover, Sam Kerr was honored with the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2022 and was chosen as the Australian flag-bearer for the coronation of Charles III and Camilla in 2023.
Sam Kerr’s Financial Insights
Renowned as one of the greatest female forwards in history, Sam Kerr is a well-known figure and an inspiring role model for aspiring football players and enthusiasts worldwide. Currently playing for Chelsea in the FA Women’s Super League and leading the Australian women’s team, the CommBank Matildas, as their captain since 2019, all eyes will be on Sam and her team as they strive for glory on home turf during the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 in Australia and New Zealand this winter.
Beyond her swift and skillful goals on the field, Sam adopts a more understated approach to managing her finances off the pitch. She admits that becoming financially literate wasn’t an instant process; it involved considerable trial and error. “I’ve become quite adept at saving money,” she explains, reflecting on her progress. “However, in my younger days, I wasn’t budget-conscious and tended to spend all the money I earned within a few days.”
Even during her school days in Fremantle/Walyalup, there were hints of her inclination to save. “Back in primary school, I used to save the change from my lunch money and treat myself to something special at the end of the term,” she fondly recalls.
Now, with a demanding schedule of training and playing that requires frequent international travel, Sam finds it easier to save. Her commitments to Chelsea, the CommBank Matildas, and lucrative sponsorship deals, such as her partnership with Nike as their Australian brand ambassador since 2019, leave her with little time for excessive spending. Sam describes herself as a spontaneous spender, only making occasional purchases due to her limited free time. For significant expenses, she takes her time to make thoughtful decisions, occasionally seeking a gentle nudge to finalize them.
Net Worth 2023
As of 2023, Sam Kerr’s net worth stands at $4.7 million Australian dollars.
Fun Facts
- During her formative years, Sam Kerr embraced the sporting tradition of her family by participating in Australian rules football.
- Her father and older brother, Daniel Kerr, both pursued careers as professional Australian rules footballers, inspiring her early involvement in the sport.
- However, at the age of 12, Kerr made a significant shift and switched to association football. This change was primarily driven by gender restrictions that hindered her opportunities in the realm of Australian rules football, which she didn’t initially hold a fondness for.
- Nonetheless, her transition to association football marked the beginning of a remarkable journey that would lead her to become one of the greatest female soccer players of all time.
- Despite encountering challenges during her transition from Australian rules football to association football, Sam Kerr persevered.
- At the age of 13, she caught the attention of Bobby Despotovski, a Perth Glory striker, who was impressed by her remarkable athleticism and raw talent.
- Making her debut in the W-League and on the international stage at just 15 years old, Kerr’s early success showcased her exceptional abilities and potential as a rising soccer star.