The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup is just days away from kicking off!
There will be a number of past and present City stars in action across both Australia and our co-host, New Zealand.
As we close in on the start of what shapes up to be a huge next few weeks in Australian football, why not look back at their time in Melbourne City shirts?
Rebekah Stott
- Melbourne City appearances: 75 (2015-20, 2021-22)
- Melbourne City Honours: All-time most Women’s appearances, 4x Championships, 2x Premierships
- New Zealand caps: 90
A legend of Melbourne City, no Women’s player in club history has worn the City shirt more than ‘Stotty’.
A vital piece of our history-making squads, she overcame Hodgkin’s lymphoma to make a successful return to professional football with a second stint at City in 2021/22.
Where is she now?
Stott moved back to Women’s Super League club Brighton & Hove Albion in 2022 and made six appearances last season.
Steph Catley
- Melbourne City appearances: 62 (2015-20)
- Melbourne City Honours: 2nd all-time most Women’s appearances, 4x Championships, 2x Premierships, 2016/17 Player of the Year
- Australia caps: 110
Not many players have had a bigger impact on our Women’s squad than Steph Catley. Captain for our history-making run of three Championships in a row, the Melbourne-born City legend will be the Matildas vice-captain for the FIFA WWC.
Where is she now?
Since departing City in 2020, Catley has been playing her club football with Arsenal in the Women’s Super League.
Lydia Williams
- Melbourne City appearances: 52 (2016-2020)
- Melbourne City Honours: =5th all-time most Women’s appearances, 3x Championships, 1x Premiership.
- Australia caps: 102
One of the best Women’s shot stoppers this country has ever seen, Lydia Williams is another name City fans will remember fondly. Her four seasons with City brought plenty of success with three Championships and a Premiership coming over that memorable run.
Where is she now?
Williams has spent time at Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain in recent years, but now plays her club football with Brighton & Hove Albion after signing with the WSL club in January.
Aivi Luik
- Melbourne City appearances: 49 (2015-20)
- Melbourne City Honours: 4x Championships, 2x Premierships, 2015/16 Player of the Year
- Australia caps: 43
One of the most important players in our inaugural years, Luik did a mountain of work in midfield. Having been at City since our first season, she was a key contributor and a large part of our success year after year.
Where is she now?
Following the 2020/21 invincibles season, Luik made the move to Spain to join Sevilla. She’s since remained in Europe, currently playing for Sweden’s BK Hacken.
Kyah Simon
- Melbourne City appearances: 31 (2017-20)
- Melbourne City Honours: 2x Championships, 1x Premiership
- Australia caps: 111
Kyah Simon’s three years at City saw her cause plenty of issues for opposition defences, finding the back of the net 10 times. Over that successful period, she helped the team to two Championships and a Premiership.
Where is she now?
After concluding her time in Melbourne with City, Simon made the move to Europe; first with PSV, before moving to WSL giants, Tottenham Hotspur. It was last month announced that she had departed Spurs, meaning she is currently a free agent.
Hannah Wilkinson
- Melbourne City appearances: 28 (2021-)
- Melbourne City Honours: All-time Women’s leading scorer, 2021/22 Player of the Year
- New Zealand caps: 115
City fans won’t have to cast their minds back far to remember Hannah Wilkinson starring upfront, as she became our all-time Women’s leading scorer last season. She also holds the record for the most goals scored in a game, putting five past Melbourne Victory in a memorable Boxing Day performance in 2021.
Where are they now?
Wilkinson spent last season in City blue, making 14 appearances and scoring six goals in her second year with the club.
Alex Chidiac
- Melbourne City appearances: 20 (2015-16, 2020-21)
- Melbourne City Honours: 1x Championship, 1x Premiership
- Australia caps: 27
Chidiac has had two stints in City colours, the first coming in our inaugural season where we didn’t lose a match on the way to taking out the double. She returned to the club midway through the 2020/21 season and scored three goals in 10 appearances.
Where is she now?
Chidiac currently plays for Racing Louisville in the NWSL, alongside Emina Ekic who starred for City in the early stages of last season before injury saw her loan deal come to an unfortunate early end.
Katie Bowen
- Melbourne City appearances: 19 (2022-)
- New Zealand caps: 94
Bowen was a mainstay of the City line-up last season, starting in every single fixture. Whether it was in the heart of defence or further up the pitch in midfield, her consistency and experience were evident all season long.
Where is she now?
After signing a one-year deal prior to last season, Bowen is currently out of contract – so City fans will be hoping for some good news on the re-signing front in the coming months.
Emily van Egmond
- Melbourne City appearances: 14 (2019-20)
- Melbourne City Honours: 1x Championship, 1x Premiership
- Australia caps: 128
While we may have only seen van Egmond in City colours for one season, it sure was a memorable one. The dynamic midfielder started every match of the 2019-20 season, scoring six goals on the way to helping the team take out the double.
Where is she now?
Following her time at City, van Egmond spent a year with West Ham United in the WSL, before moving back to America where she now plays for San Diego Wave.
Ellie Carpenter
- Melbourne City appearances: 14 (2019-20)
- Melbourne City Honours: 1x Championship, 1x Premiership, 2019/20 Player of the Year
- Australia caps: 62
Carpenter is another who had a brief but memorable stint at City in the 2019/20 season. Also starting every fixture in that invincible season, Carpenter’s blistering form saw her named our Player of the Year and the W-League Young Footballer of the Year.
Where is she now?
Her time at City saw her impress enough to earn a big European move, signing for French powerhouse Lyon where she has twice won the Champions League. An ACL injury saw her sidelined for a long period, but she’s now back fit and firing ahead of the World Cup.
Alanna Kennedy
- Melbourne City appearances: 14 (2017-18)
- Melbourne City Honours: 1x Championship
- Australia caps: 109
Kennedy spent the 2017/18 season in City blue, a vital part of our defensive unit in a year that saw us come from fourth to take out a third consecutive Championship.
Where is she now?
After spending time with Sydney FC following her stint in Melbourne, Kennedy spent a year with Tottenham Hotspur but is once again part of the City family, currently playing for Manchester City in the WSL.
Tameeka Yallop
- Melbourne City appearances: 10 (2018-19)
- Australia caps: 114
After a decade in Brisbane along with a few stints overseas, Yallop made the move to City for season 2018/19. She made 10 appearances and scored three goals in her time with the club.
Where is she now?
Yallop returned to Brisbane following that season, then spent a year in the WSL with West Ham United before joining her current Norwegian team, SK Brann.
Teagan Micah
- Melbourne City appearances: 8 (2020-21)
- Melbourne City Honours: 2020/21 Player of the Year
- Australia appearances: 14
The Victorian-born keeper spent a season with City in 2020/21. While it did come to an early end through injury, she was super impressive in her eight appearances and was deservedly named our Player of the Year.
Where is she now?
After a brief stint in Norway, Micah spent two years in Sweden with FC Rosengard where she fully established herself in the Matildas squad. It was last week announced that she had signed with WSL giants, Liverpool.
