Jess Halloran: Big European club comes calling as Matildas captain Sam Kerr’s star continues to rise

Sam Kerr is not about individual accolades and prides herself on being a team-first player. But a massive offer from England for the Matildas skipper will be mighty hard to ignore.

Sam Kerr scored four goals against Jamaica at the Women’s World Cup.

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Superstar Sam Kerr is considering a two-season contract worth close to a $1 million from the Chelsea Football Club, an offer that could make her one of the highest paid female footballers in the world.

Kerr will now have to choose between playing in England’s FA women’s Super League or in front of adoring fans at home with the W-League’s Perth Glory.

Football Federation Australia chief David Gallop says they will formally start negotiations with Kerr after this World Cup and hope to table a contract for her to keep playing in the W-League next season.

Sam Kerr scored four goals against Jamaica at the Women’s World Cup.

Gallop said Kerr is “a pioneer of a new era of women’s sport” and the FFA will again be doing all they can to keep her playing on home soil.

“She’s important to Australian football and the women’s game,” Gallop told this column.

“We will definitely sit down with her after the World Cup and discuss where she sees herself next. Her spot at Perth Glory and in the W-League is a tremendous thing for the club, the competition and the sport. The opportunity for her to lead us into a home soil Women’s World Cup in 2023 is so exciting.

“We appreciate that playing for a big club overseas would be wonderful for her, too.”

“I see her as a pioneer of a new era for women’s sport and women generally because she has pushed a barrier over that will be remembered as a unique moment in time. Now we see women, girls, men and boys wearing Matildas jerseys and even crossing out the name of a Socceroo on a men’s jersey and replacing it with Kerr.

“That says we are seeing something special. She is a great football player not just a great women’s football player.”

Sam Kerr’s star has risen to dizzy heights in France.

Kerr has risen to new heights at this World Cup; her history-making four-goal haul against Jamaica caught the world’s attention.

One of her Matilda’s teammates, defender Steph Catley, dubbed the 25-year-old a “super-hero”.

But Kerr is not about individual accolades and prides herself on being a team-first player. She is a footballer that can rise up in those crunch moments when her team needs her most, as she has shown in France.

And with her brilliant World Cup performances her value has risen; on the field and off it.

And so, it should.

She is not only an exceptional athlete but an exceptional role model.

David Gallop calls Sam Kerr ‘a pioneer of a new era of women’s sport.’

Kerr shows what persistence, resilience, determination, passion mixed in with brilliant talent can achieve.

Contrary to reports, the Matildas star is not yet a “million dollar Kerr”.

Kerr herself is understood to be embarrassed by that tag and the attention around her false estimation of her yearly earnings in the media. She is a selfless person and has privately expressed hopes for better pay for all in her sport.

Pay equity remains a burning issue for the sport globally with Norway’s Ada Hegerberg, the first winner of the female Ballon d’Or last December, choosing not to play at this World Cup in France to raising attention around the issue and working conditions.

While those close to Kerr have said the Chelsea offer is “unbelievable”, Kerr’s manager Niki White declined to comment when contacted about the exact nature of the offer.

Kerr played for Perth Glory in the most recent W-League season on a 12-month contract estimated to be $400,000. Notably, Kerr turned down more lucrative international offers to play in her home country last season.

The FFA are going to do everything they can to keep Sam Kerr at Perth Glory.

And Nike may also have to lift their game to keep Kerr on their books, too.

While the likes of basketballer Ben Simmons signed a $12 million five-year deal with Nike in 2016 — as just an NBA draft ‘prospect’ — it’s understood Kerr signed on to the shoe giant for a very meagre sum in comparison.

Yet Nike has used her front and centre of their women’s World Cup advertisement and is currently on billboards globally. An emotive mini-documentary on Kerr is showcased on Nike’s Instagram account — which has nearly 90 million followers — has been viewed well over two million times.

Nike signed up Kerr a couple of years ago as part of their strategic push into women’s sport.

Since then Kerr has more than demonstrated her power to positively influence and inspire the masses – men and women, boys and girls – she should be acknowledged for her worth.

As all female athletes – who have been vastly underpaid in comparison to men – should.

.@samkerr1’s iconic @Tim_Cahill tribute. 🤜🏼 🚩

“He’s an idol, but he’s also a friend. Hopefully I can be half the player and goalscorer that he was.”

📷 @COPA90

Watch the full video 👉 https://t.co/OO4kM6vNwn#FIFAWWC #WeAreMatildas @FIFAWWC pic.twitter.com/BpdJ61epbW

— Matildas (@TheMatildas) June 21, 2019

Sports federations and big brands like Nike need to start respecting the power of these women in general and seeing them as investment for the future.

It’s not waiting until these women fill stadiums every single week or attract insane television ratings to financially reward them – it’s about being ahead of the curve and clever. It’s about recognising potential. It’s about understanding investing in female athletes and women’s sport is powerful, progressive move and is simply good for business.

It’s acknowledging these women are growing your game, or brand, be it via participation or new fans.

It’s time to pay female athletes appropriately.

At the very least Nike should be paying Kerr what Simmons is getting – she is a once in a generation footballer.

One of Kerr’s most vocal supporters has been retired Socceroo Tim Cahill during this World Cup.

So proud of the Matildas and what this team is all about. Keep breaking them barriers and helping kids to follow their DREAMS. Big love to my girl @samkerr1 For laying down the foundations for the next generation, keep enjoying your football and scoring loads of goals ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/wmoyNpUvWQ

— TIM CAHILL (@Tim_Cahill) June 19, 2019

He has championed her efforts publicly and praised her class and athleticism. Kerr grew up watching and idolising Cahill and her goal celebration boxing the corner flag against Italy in the opening game was a tribute to him.

This week Cahill posted an artist’s impression of himself and Kerr boxing the flag.

In the tweet he sent “big love” to Kerr and stating she was “laying down the foundations for the next generation”.

Kerr this week in a Facebook video said she spoke glowingly of her idol and how she was now fortunate to count him as a “friend”.

Both have a trademark of producing heroic performances when it matters for Australia.

The last two years Kerr has scored the most goals in both the United States’ and Australia’s leagues.

But it is not just her exceptional, intuitive, athletic ability that has the FFA hierarchy impressed – it is also Kerr’s leadership. She’s been central to a more settled Matildas environment under coach Ante Milicic.

Gallop says her game against Jamaica said so much about her ability but her impact off the field is felt just as greatly.

“Sam’s efforts against Jamaica just confirm that she is a superstar doing what champions do - taking on the big matches and scoring goals when we needed them,” Gallop said.

“Four goals is extraordinary. But her leadership is also a critical component to the professional atmosphere around the team now.

“The team deserves a great leader and the players are inspired by her. Sam and the other senior players have participated in the open lines of communication with the coaching staff and you can feel the collective positivity around the team.”

No wonder why Sam Kerr is so in demand.