Sam Kerr in telling Matildas admission after major award move
The Matildas star continues to receive individual recognition.
Matildas captain Sam Kerr says she hopes Australia's Women's World Cup run will be "remembered forever" as she receives a nomination for the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year. The Chelsea striker is one of five nominees chosen by a panel of current and former professionals, coaches and journalists, with the winner decided by a public vote and to be announced on November 28.
The Aussie's year has been a successful one, leading the Matildas to a World Cup semi-final and Chelsea to the English Super League title and FA Cup. Kerr says while the individual accolades are great, more than anything she hopes the Matildas achievements this year will have a lasting impact on women's football in Australia.
INCREDIBLE: Ange Postecoglou stuns football world in unprecedented act
'VERY HARD': Postecoglou's brutal truth bomb after Matildas mania
“I’ve always wanted to win, always (been) really competitive,” Kerr said. “It just drives you. When you win one trophy, you get a taste of it. At Chelsea, we’ve been lucky to win enough to grab a few trophies. Some people think it makes you content but it just (makes you want to) win more.”
Speaking on the Matildas, Kerr says she hoped their run would be “remembered forever” and that it “inspired the nation to believe in women’s football”. “The lasting legacy is that hopefully, we get the funding that the game deserves,” she said.
The Matildas next play on Thursday night in a 2024 Olympic Games qualifier against Iran in Perth.
Kerr back amongst the goals
Kerr hit the scoresheet for the first time since she scored a worldie against England in the World Cup semi-final, slotting one past Aussie keeper Mackenzie Arnold in Chelsea's 2-0 victory against West Ham in the Women's Super League. It was Kerr's first start of the season for Chelsea as she recovers from a niggling calf injury that disrupted her World Cup.
After missing the opening game of this season and then appearing as a sub against Manchester City last week, the 30-year-old showed she is back, scoring a trademark header. Kerr could have had a double if not for the goal being disallowed for offside.
She was eventually subbed off in the 77th minute, with her replacement Jessie Fleming netting Chelsea's second to secure the win. The goal was Kerr's 55th in 69 WSL appearances as she will once again set her sights on the Golden Boot, which she won in two consecutive seasons before losing her title to Aston Villa's Rachel Daly in the 2022-23 campaign, who broke the record for most goals in a WSL season with 22.
Kerr's Chelsea currently sit top of the table, with seven points from three games as they go for their fifth-straight title. Chelsea have won their last 17 games at home and haven't dropped a point at either Kingsmeadow or Stamford Bridge since drawing with Arsenal in February last year.
Sign up to our newsletter and score the biggest sport stories of the week.
