‘I’ve given everything’: Much loved Matilda hangs up the boots, reveals finals home game
The Matildas’ most capped player has revealed she has called time on her glittering national career that has spanned almost half her life, but she will get one last chance to say goodbye to her home fans.
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The most capped Matilda will play her final game in the green and gold in front of a likely sold out home crowd but it might not be the last time veteran Clare Polkinghorne plays in Australia.
Thoughts of retirement have been dancing around Polkinghorne’s head for a while.
It wasn’t until the disappointing Olympic campaign the 35-year-old made up her mind.
“I feel like I’ve given everything I’ve got physically, mentally and emotionally for this team,” Polkinghorne said.
“I think it’s the perfect time for me to step away from the Matildas.
“It’s obviously not a decision I made lightly and didn’t come quickly but it’s a decision that I’m very proud to make and a lot of athletes don’t get the opportunity to go out on their own terms.
“As soon as I heard there was going to be a game in Brisbane at the end of the year I thought that was the perfect time for me to play one last game in Brisbane in front of my family and friends and all those people that have supported me along the way.
“It’s really special for me.”
No other Matildas player has played more games in the green and gold than Polkinghorne. She has taken the pitch 167 times since her debut in 2006.
Cheryl Salisbury is the second most capped with 151 games to her name.
Polkinghorne has starred at five FIFA Women’s World Cups, five Asian Cups, and is a three-time Olympian.
The highlight reel from her career, which has spanned almost half her life, is a long one.
“My debut with the Matildas is still one of my proudest moments, that’s something I’ll never forget,” Polkinghorne said.
“Then the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup – my first major tournament with the Matildas, I actually played in the game against Equatorial Guinea where the Matildas got their first goal at a World Cup which is pretty special to be part of as well.
“All the World Cups have been special to me – it is the pinnacle of football representing your country on the biggest stage.
“In 2010 we managed to win the first silverware for Australian women’s football winning the Asian Cup – that’s definitely something I’ll remember for the rest of my life. Winning that tournament and what it meant for not only the players and staff but kickstarting the interest in women’s football all those years ago.”
Polkinghorne’s first of three Olympics, the 2016 Rio Games also made her shortlist – it was the first time the Matildas had qualified for the tournament in 12 years.
“Being an athlete all you want to do is represent your country in an Olympic Games, a lot of us hadn’t experienced an Olympics before and qualifying through Asia is not easy – and we qualified after the fourth game,” she said.
“Achieving that dream of becoming an Olympian is something that I’ll hold dearly.”
FULL CIRCLE
Tom Sermanni, Polkinghorne’s first national team coach, will likely be pitch-side at Suncorp Stadium on November 28 for the Queenslander’s final match.
Sermanni is the interim Matildas coach following the departure of Tony Gustavsson in August.
“He’s definitely played a massive part in my career and for him to possibly be there at the end is something that is really special and a very nice way to end,” Polkinghorne said.
Sermanni said he could still remember the first time he saw teenage Polkinghorne play.
“It was a national championships, she played for Queensland, perhaps in the under-16s or 18s, I noticed this red headed dynamic midfield player and remember thinking ‘wow where did she come from’,” he said.
“From a coaching perspective she was a dream to coach – she is a player that would play anywhere on the team and would be happy to put the gloves on and play in goal if that was required, she was the ultimate team player.”
Sermanni said he was not surprised by the length or success of Polkinghorne’s career.
He credited it to four things – her determination to always be better which made her “indispensable”, her athleticism, ability to play anywhere on the field and her attitude.
“It will be a great honour for me to coach Polks’ last game, never would I have foreseen that, how amazing that circumstances have collided to give me this opportunity,” Sermanni said.
“It will be such a pleasure to be there and one of the highlights of my career.”
NEW LEVEL
When Polkinghorne first started playing football as a junior girls only teams were rare – so she played alongside her older brother.
She played at the QAS and then played more than 100 games for Brisbane Roar in the W-League.
Polkinghorne has played a huge role in advocating for women’s rights during her career – a key part of the 2015 strike over pay that eventually led to the Matildas being paid the same as the Socceroos.
These off-field achievements are just as an important part of Polkinghorne’s career as the 16 goals she scored.
“I’m really proud of the way the players have taken control and ownership of where they want this team to go,” she said.
“We’ve fought for what we believe is right for this team and that’s something I’m really proud of, no matter how easy or hard it was we were always willing to fight for what we believed in as a group and that definitely helped the progression of this team.
“I don’t think we’d be here today if we hadn’t made all those tough decisions in the past.”
And it certainly wouldn’t have led to the legacy created by the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The Matildas smashed TV viewership ratings, crowd records and finished fourth – the best result for any Australian team at a FIFA World Cup.
“It was an incredible experience for the players and everyone involved in the team,” Polkinghorne said.
“It was bittersweet, I think we fell short of what we wanted to achieve in the end but I think off the field we definitely helped to change the game in Australia.”
FUTURE MATILDAS
Polkinghorne will be the second veteran of the side to officially retire post the Paris Olympics – with Lydia Williams announcing her retirement in May.
She won’t be the last – a number of other Matildas, including midfielder Katrina Gorry, have hinted that retirement isn’t far off.
The defender is even backing them in to do what hasn’t been done since 2010 – win the 2026 Asian Cup.
“There’s definitely more to give,” she said.
“Finishing fourth at a couple of major tournaments in a row was something that really stung us as a playing group and I know that’s really lit the fire in a lot of players and I’ve got no doubt that they’ll continue to grow and develop.
“With the new players coming through it’s going to be a really exciting time to support the Matildas.”
The key to success though will be Football Australia appointing the right replacement for Gustavsson.
“There are a lot of fantastic coaches out there and hopefully we get one that is able to get the best out of the players and understands the culture of Australian football and the players we have,” Polkinghorne said.
“I think we need someone who has the belief in the group that we can achieve great things.”
WHAT’S NEXT
Well she has decided to put the green and gold jersey away for good, Polkinghorne said she was yet to make up her mind on her professional career.
She has played around the world during her time as a footballer – starting with Brisbane Roar before heading overseas to play for Houston Dash, Portland Thorns, INAC Kobe Leonessa, Vittsjo GIK and now Kristianstads DFF.
The Swedish League wraps up in November – as does Polkinghorne’s contract with them.
Polkinghorne said it was “still up in the air” but didn’t rule out the possibility of returning to Australia to play in the A-League's’ Women’s competition.
“It would also be nice to finish up my club football in Australia but nothing has been decided yet.”
Polkinghorne’s send off match will be on November 28 at Suncorp Stadium when the Matildas take on Brazil.
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