.jpg) Polkinghorne playing forAustralia at the2017 Algarve Cup | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Clare Elizabeth Polkinghorne | ||
| Date of birth | (1989-02-01)1 February 1989 (age 37) | ||
| Place of birth | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia | ||
| Height | 1.71 m (5 ft 7 in) | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Wynnum Wolves | |||
| Capalaba Bulldogs | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2003 | Brisbane Toro | ||
| 2004 | Queensland Lions | ||
| 2004–2008 | Queensland Academy of Sport | ||
| 2008–2021 | Brisbane Roar | 139 | (17) |
| 2014 | →INAC Kobe Leonessa (loan) | ||
| 2015 | Portland Thorns | 9 | (0) |
| 2018–2019 | Houston Dash | 18 | (0) |
| 2020 | Avaldsnes IL | 15 | (1) |
| 2021–2023 | Vittsjö GIK | 56 | (7) |
| 2024 | Kristianstads DFF | 26 | (2) |
| Total | 263 | (27) | |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2006–2007 | Australia U-20 | 14 | (0) |
| 2006–2024 | Australia | 169 | (16) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 17 December 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 17 December 2024 | |||
Clare Elizabeth PolkinghorneOAM (born 1 February 1989) is an Australian professionalsoccer player who plays as adefender. On 2 October 2024 she announced her retirement from international football, and played her last game for the Matildas in a friendly againstChinese Taipei on 7 December 2024. She became Australia's most capped footballer in February 2023, and as of her final game, she extended this record with 169 appearances since her debut in 2006. She retired atDamallsvenskan clubKristianstads DFF. Polkinghorne was awarded theMedal of the Order of Australia in the2025 Australia Day Honours for "service to football".
Clare Elizabeth Polkinghorne was born inBrisbane, Queensland, on 1 February 1989.[1]
For the 2014 season, Polkinghorne was loaned toINAC Kobe Leonessa in Japan.[2]
Polkinghorne signed forPortland Thorns in theNational Women's Soccer League after the2015 World Cup.[3] Portland Thorns waived Polkinghorne in February 2016.[4]
On 7 January 2017, Polkinghorne become the first player to play 100 club games in theW-League, all of which have been played for Brisbane Roar.[5] In December 2020, Polkinghorne re-signed withBrisbane Roar after spending the off-season atAvaldsnes.[6]
On 7 June 2018, Polkinghorne signed with theHouston Dash.[7]
Polkinghorne signed for SwedishDamallsvenskan clubVittsjö GIK on 19 March 2021.[8]
On 25 December 2023, Polkinghorne joinedKristianstads DFF for the 2024 Damallsvenskan season.[9]
Polkinghorne first represented theAustralia national team in 2006 and has played more than 160 matches, scoring 16 goals. She played in both the2007 World Cup[10][11] and2011 World Cup and was an unused squad member during the2015 World Cup.
Polkinghorne was selected for the AustralianMatildas football team which qualified for theTokyo 2020 Olympics. The Matildas advanced to the quarter-finals with one victory and a draw in the group play. In the quarter-finals they beatGreat Britain 4–3 after extra time. However, they lost 1–0 toSweden in the semi-final and were then beaten 4–3 in the bronze medal playoff byUSA.[12]
In February 2023, Polkinghorne became the most capped Matilda ever with her 152nd appearance, after surpassing the previous record set byCheryl Salisbury. She scored a goal against the Czech Republic in the game.[13]
On 4 June 2024, Polkinghorne was named in the Matildas team which qualified for theParis 2024 Olympics, her third Olympic games selection.[14]
Polkinghorne announced her retirement from international football on 2 October 2024, effective in December, after the Matildas play Brazil in her hometown of Brisbane. She will continue her club career at Kristianstads, at the same time working towards attaining a coaching licence.[15]
Polkinghorne played her second last game for the Matildas in a friendly against Brazil atLang Park in Brisbane on 28 November 2024, which they lost 3–1 (the goal scored byCaitlin Foord). Polkinghorne's last game for Australia occurred on 7 December, in a 6–0 win againstChinese Taipei held inGeelong.[16] At this date, she is Australia's most capped footballer, with 169 appearances during her career.[16][17] In the next month she was awarded theMedal of the Order of Australia in theAustralia Day Honours for "service to football".[18]
Polkinghorne is in alesbian relationship with SwedishHyrox coach Louise Persson. On 29 September 2025, Polkinghorne and Persson announced that they were expecting their first child.[19]
Goal | Date | Location | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 5 March 2008 | Stockland Park,Sunshine Coast, Australia |  New Zealand | 5350.03005 4–2 | 5650.06005 4–2 | Friendly |
| 2. | 2 June 2008 | Thống Nhất Stadium,Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam |  Japan | 5350.03005 1–3 | 5650.06005 1–3 | 2008 AFC Women's Asian Cup |
| 3. | 16 June 2013 | Australian Institute of Sport,Canberra, Australia | New Zealand | 5350.03005 1–0 | 5650.06005 1–1 | Friendly |
| 4. | 10 February 2015 | Bill McKinlay Park,Auckland, New Zealand |  North Korea | 5350.03005 1–0 | 5650.06005 2–1 | Friendly |
| 5 | 11 March 2015 | Paralimni Stadium,Paralimni,Cyprus |  Czech Republic | 5–2 | 6–2 | 2015 Cyprus Cup |
| 6. | 2 March 2016 | Nagai Stadium,Osaka, Japan |  Vietnam | 5350.03005 9–0 | 5650.06005 9–0 | 2016 Olympics qualifying |
| 7. | 9 August 2016 | Itaipava Arena Fonte Nova,Salvador, Brazil |  Zimbabwe | 5350.03005 2–0 | 5650.06005 6–1 | 2016 Summer Olympics |
| 8. | 28 February 2018 | Albufeira Municipal Stadium,Albufeira, Portugal |  Norway | 5350.03005 1–1 | 5650.06005 4–3 | 2018 Algarve Cup |
| 9. | 9 October 2018 | Craven Cottage,London, England |  England | 5350.03005 1–1 | 5650.06005 1–1 | Friendly |
| 10. | 6 March 2020 | McDonald Jones Stadium,Newcastle, Australia | Vietnam | 5350.03005 4–0 | 5650.06005 5–0 | 2020 Olympics qualifying |
| 11. | 10 June 2021 | CASA Arena,Horsens, Denmark |  Denmark | 5350.03005 2–3 | 5650.06005 2–3 | Friendly |
| 12. | 23 October 2021 | CommBank Stadium,Sydney, Australia |  Brazil | 5350.03005 1–0 | 5650.06005 3–1 | Friendly |
| 13. | 26 October 2021 | CommBank Stadium,Sydney, Australia | Brazil | 5350.03005 1–0 | 5650.06005 2–2 | Friendly |
| 14. | 8 October 2022 | Kingsmeadow,London, United Kingdom |  South Africa | 5350.03005 3–0 | 5650.06005 4–1 | Friendly |
| 15. | 16 February 2023 | Industree Group Stadium,Gosford, Australia | Czech Republic | 5350.03005 4–0 | 5650.06005 4–0 | 2023 Cup of Nations |
| 16. | 19 February 2023 | CommBank Stadium,Sydney, Australia |  Spain | 5350.03005 2–0 | 5650.06005 3–2 | 2023 Cup of Nations |
Queensland Sting
Brisbane Roar
Australia
Individual
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by None | Brisbane Roar captain 2008–present | Incumbent |
| Preceded by | Australia captain 2013–2019 Served alongside:Kate Gill (2014) | Succeeded by |
Australia squads | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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