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Kyra Cooney-Cross

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Kyra Cooney-Cross
Cooney-Cross in 2019
Personal information
Full name Kyra Lillee Cooney-Cross
Date of birth (2002-02-15) 15 February 2002 (age 22)
Place of birth Herston, Queensland, Australia
Height 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)[1][2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Arsenal
Number 32
Youth career
2013–2016 Ballarat City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2019 Melbourne Victory 16 (2)
2019–2020 Western Sydney Wanderers 13 (4)
2020–2022 Melbourne Victory 28 (7)
2022–2023 Hammarby IF 30 (1)
2023– Arsenal 22 (1)
International career‡
2016–2017 Australia U-17 14 (14)
2018– Australia U-20 8 (7)
2021– Australia 52 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16 November 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 28 October 2024

Kyra Lillee Cooney-Cross (/ˈkaɪrə/; born 15 February 2002) is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Women's Super League club Arsenal and the Australia women's national team. She has previously played for Hammarby IF in the Damallsvenskan, as well as Western Sydney Wanderers and Melbourne Victory in the W-League.

Early life

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Cooney-Cross was born to Jessica Cooney and Jai Cross in Herston, Queensland.[1] Jai played soccer at semi-pro level in Queensland with Sunshine Coast and he wanted his daughter to grow up with a ball at her feet. Usually playing with older girls and boys, at the age of 13, she started at FFV NTC and a year later trialled for the Mini Matildas.[3] Cooney-Cross attended Ballarat High School as well as Surf Coast Secondary College in Torquay, Victoria before dropping out to pursue her dream of soccer.[4]

Club career

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Cooney-Cross spent three years in Ballarat City between 2013 and 2016, playing under the tutelage of Ballarat City coach Tessa Curtain.[5]

Melbourne Victory (2017–2019)

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In 2017, Cooney-Cross was signed by Melbourne Victory for the 2017-18 W-League season.[6] On 28 October 2017, she made her debut for the club in a 2–1 home win against Canberra United, playing the full 90 minutes in her first competitive league match.[7] On 29 December 2017, she scored her first ever goal for the club in a 3–1 home loss against Newcastle Jets, heading in at the 28th minute mark behind Jets goalkeeper Britt Eckerstrom.[8] By the end of the season she played in Victory's all twelve games, scoring two goals.[3] In the 2018–19 season, she was part of the W-League premier title winning squad, though she was only able to play in four of the twelve matches.[3]

Western Sydney Wanderers (2019–2020)

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Cooney-Cross moved to Western Sydney Wanderers for the 2019–20 season, where she scored in her debut, a free-kick at the 92nd minute mark of a 2–1 home win over Adelaide United.[9]

Melbourne Victory (2020–2022)

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In December 2020, following one season at Western Sydney Wanderers, Cooney-Cross returned to Melbourne Victory.[10] On 11 April, Cooney-Cross scored directly from a corner kick in the 120th minute of extra time to win the 2021 W-League Grand Final, beating season premiers Sydney FC 0–1.[11][12]

Hammarby (2022–2023)

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On 15 March 2022, Cooney-Cross transferred to Hammarby IF in the Swedish Damallsvenskan, signing a two-year contract.[13]

Arsenal (2023–)

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On 15 September 2023, Arsenal announced the signing of Cooney-Cross.[14] Ian Wright wanted Arsenal to recruit Cooney-Cross after her impressive performance in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, and asked Steph Catley to help convince Cooney-Cross to join the club.[15] On the 1 October 2023, the opening day of the 2023-24 season, Cooney-Cross made her first appearance for the club in a 0-1 loss to Liverpool.[16]

International career

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In August 2016, Cooney-Cross was part of the Australia U-17s who participated in the 2017 AFC U-16 Women's Championship qualifiers, scoring six goals, the first four of which came against Palestine.[17] She was later named in the squad for the 2017 AFC U-16 Women's Championship finals, where Australia was knocked out in the group stage, their only points coming from a 3–2 win against Bangladesh. Cooney-Cross scored in the 78th minute of the game to bring the scores level to 2–2, before Sofia Sakalis scored the winner in the 83rd minute, to help Australia finish third in the group.[18]

In October 2018, Cooney-Cross scored the first three of her six goals of the 2019 AFC U-19 Women's Championship qualifiers.[19] On 4 June 2019, she was named as a standby player for the Australian squad participating in the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup.[20] On 15 October 2019, she was named in the Australia U-20 squad participating in the 2019 AFC U-19 Women's Championship.[21] She scored Australia's first goal of the tournament in a 5–1 opening match loss against North Korea, heading in at the 16th minute mark from an Indiah-Paige Riley cross.[22]

Cooney-Cross made her debut for the Australian women's national soccer team in a 3–2 friendly loss to Denmark on 10 June 2021.

Cooney-Cross was selected for the Matildas soccer team which qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The Matildas advanced to the quarter-finals with one victory and a draw in the group play. In the quarter-finals they beat Great Britain 4–3 after extra time. However, they lost 1–0 to Sweden in the semi-final and were then beaten 4–3 in the bronze medal playoff by USA.[23]

Cooney-Cross was a part of the Australian team at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. She featured in the starting lineup of every match that Australia played, forming a midfield partnership with Katrina Gorry.

On 4 June 2024, Cooney-Cross was named in the Matildas team which qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympics, her second Olympic games selection.[24] Later that year, she scored her debut goal for Australia during her 50th international game in a 1-2 win against Germany on 28 October in Duisburg, Germany.[25]

Personal life

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Personality

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Cooney-Cross is well-known for her playful and cheeky personality, as well as her sense of humour, having been given the affectionate title of an "annoying little sister" by national team and Arsenal teammates Steph Catley and Caitlin Foord.[26]

She is also known for her friendships and close personal relationships with many of her teammates. For example, one of her closest friends is Matildas teammate Charlotte Grant, who plays for arch-rival club Tottenham Hotspur, and the two have attended each other's games despite the North London Derby being one of the fiercest sporting rivalries in the world.[26]

Tottenham scarf incident

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In 2024, Grant played in the 2024 Women's FA Cup final, where Tottenham were defeated 4–0 by Manchester United. Despite the North London Derby being one of the fiercest rivalries, Cooney-Cross attended the match to support Grant, a move which Grant herself described as "controversial" as Cooney-Cross plays for their arch-rivals Arsenal. In a photo uploaded to social media, she was pictured with a Tottenham Hotspur scarf on her shoulder.[26]

The incident led many Arsenal fans to criticise her online for wearing her rival club's merchandise, and she received some abuse from fans for the photo. However, Grant defended her in a post on Twitter, saying her friendship meant more than their rivalry. However, many fans still criticised her.[26]

Fans who criticised her were labelled as hypocrites by some, due to the fact that Arsenal fans themselves were actually supporting Tottenham's men's team in that week's Premier League match against Manchester City (where Manchester City won 2–0), since if Tottenham Hotspur had of defeated Manchester City, Arsenal would have won the 2023–24 Premier League.[26]

Career statistics

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As of 16 November 2024[1]

Club career

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Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Melbourne Victory FC 2017–18 W-League 12 2 — — — 12 2
2018–19 4 0 — — — 4 0
Total 16 2 — — — 16 2
Western Sydney Wanderers FC 2019–20 W-League 13 4 — — — 13 4
Melbourne Victory FC 2020–21 14 6 — — — 14 6
2021–22 A-League Women 14 1 — — — 14 1
Total 28 7 — — — 28 7
Hammarby IF 2022 Damallsvenskan 12 1 — — — 12 1
2023 18 0 — 5 0 — 23 0
Total 30 1 — 5 0 — 35 1
Arsenal 2023–24 FA WSL 14 0 2 0 7 0 0 0 23 0
2024–25 8 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 14 0
Total 22 0 2 0 7 0 6 0 37 0
Career total 109 14 2 0 12 0 6 0 129 14

International

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As of match played 28 October 2024
Scores and results list Australia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Cooney-Cross goal.
List of international goals scored by Kyra Cooney-Cross
No. Cap Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref
1. 50 28 October 2024 Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena, Duisburg, Germany  Germany 1–1 2–1 Friendly [25]

Honours

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Melbourne Victory

Hammarby

Arsenal

Individual

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Australia - K. Cooney-Cross - Profile with news, career statistics and history". Soccerway. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
  2. ^ "Squad list – Women's Olympic Football Tournament Tokyo 2020" (PDF). FIFA. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  3. ^ a b c Tito, Clement (8 February 2019). "'She had to grow up quickly'". The Women's Game. nextmedia. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  4. ^ Higgins, Billy (2 February 2022). "Pride in soccer star as cup campaign ends". Surf Coast Times. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  5. ^ Evans, Kyle (25 August 2020). "Kyra turns her attention to 2023 Women's World Cup". The Courier. Ballarat: Australian Community Media. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  6. ^ "Complete preview for each W-League team for season 2017/18". The Daily Telegraph. Sydney: News Corp Australia. 26 October 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  7. ^ "More to come from Cooney-Cross". Melbourne Victory FC. 4 November 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  8. ^ Kerry, Craig (29 December 2017). "Newcastle climb ladder with 3–1 win over Melbourne Victory". The Newcastle Herald. Australian Community Media. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  9. ^ "Western Sydney Wanderers FC Women vs Adelaide United Women, Westfield W-League, Round 1, 14th Nov 2019". Westfield W-League. Football Federation Australia. 16 November 2019.
  10. ^ "Kyra Cooney-Cross returns to Melbourne Victory". Melbourne Victory FC. 2 December 2020.
  11. ^ "Soccer-Cooney-Cross scores last-gasp corner as Melbourne win W-League Grand Final". CNA. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  12. ^ "Sydney FC Women vs Melbourne Victory Women, Westfield W-League, Grand Final, 11th Apr 2021". Westfield W-League. 24 March 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
  13. ^ "Kyra Cooney-Cross and Courtney Nevin sign with Hammarby Fotboll". Football Australia. 15 March 2022.
  14. ^ "Kyra Cooney-Cross joins the club". Arsenal F.C. 15 September 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  15. ^ "HOW IAN WRIGHT WORKED HIS MAGIC TO GET COONEY-CROSS SIGN FOR THE ARSENAL WOMEN". onefootball. 22 September 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  16. ^ "Team news: Back-to-back starts for Cooney-Cross". Arsenal F.C. 12 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  17. ^ Odong, Ann (30 August 2016). "Junior Matildas cruising in AFC U-16s Qualifiers". The Women's Game. nextmedia. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  18. ^ "Bangladesh U-16 women concede 2–3 defeat against Australia". Daily Sun. Dhaka: East West Media Group. 17 September 2017. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  19. ^ Appleton, Molly (24 October 2018). "Young Matildas masterclass on Mongolia". The Women's Game. nextmedia. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  20. ^ Evans, Kyle (4 June 2019). "Ballarat export Kyra Cooney-Cross named as standby player for FIFA World Cup team". The Courier. Ballarat: Australian Community Media. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  21. ^ "Leah Blayney finalises Westfield Young Matildas squad for 2019 AFC U-19 Women's Championship". Westfield Matildas. Football Federation Australia. 15 October 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  22. ^ Roots, Dale (28 October 2019). "DPR Korea vs Young Matildas Match Report". Beyond 90. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  23. ^ "Australian Olympic Team for Tokyo 2021". The Roar. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  24. ^ "History making Matildas team selected for Paris Olympics". Matildas. Football Australia. 4 June 2024.
  25. ^ a b Valencich, Glenn (29 October 2024). "Kyra Cooney-Cross scores miracle goal as Matildas break hearts with 2-1 upset over Germany". 7news.com.au. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
  26. ^ a b c d e ""It's a PR nightmare": Arsenal's Kyra Cooney-Cross picture with Tottenham scarf exposes "hypocritical" debate".
  27. ^ Smith, Emma (31 March 2024). "Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea (AET): Stina Blackstenius secures League Cup glory in extra time". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  28. ^ "Cooney-Cross named November's Player of the Month". Cooney-Cross named November's Player of the Month. 26 November 2024. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
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