Sam Kerr, renowned as both the captain of the Australian Women's Football team and a standout forward of her generation, is closely associated with excellence in football. Notably, she steered the Matildas to the semi-finals of the 2023 Women's World Cup. What adds intrigue to her story is her ancestral connection to Kolkata (formerly Calcutta). She often discusses her Indian roots, shedding light on her heritage.
Sam Kerr's grandparents, Denzil and Coral, originated from Calcutta and had a strong inclination towards sports. Denzil, her grandfather, engaged in featherweight boxing in Bengal, whereas Coral, affectionately known as 'Nana Kerr,' pursued basketball. Sam's father, Roger, was also born in Calcutta before the family relocated to Australia in 1969. In a Matildas video, Nana Kerr recounts their journey and the rationale behind seeking Australian citizenship. While Sam's sister settled in the UK, Denzil and Coral opted for Australia due to Denzil's health issues and a preference to avoid the harsh weather in the UK.
When discussing her Indian fanbase and her aspiration to reconnect with her origins, Sam Kerr acknowledged the significant number of Indian followers on her Instagram. She expressed her ongoing contemplation about delving into her heritage and conveyed her interest in discovering more about her roots. Sam also disclosed her conversations with her family regarding potential avenues to serve as a role model for young Indian girls. Despite her family having lived in Australia for four decades, her knowledge of India remains limited. Sam highlighted her profound pride in her Indian identity, embracing her skin tone and her 'Indian complexion,' a sentiment that was also shared by her Nana.
Who Is Sam Kerr?
- Samantha May Kerr is 28 years old Australian professional soccer player. At the age of 15, Kerr began her professional career with Perth Glory, where she played from 2008 to 2012 before moving on to Sydney FC.
- She joined the Western New York Flash in 2013 for the National Women's Soccer League's (NWSL) first season, and she helped the team win the NWSL Shield that year. Later, she participated in the same league for the Chicago Red Stars and Sky Blue FC.
- The W-League in Australia in 2017–18 and 2018–19, the NWSL in North America in 2017, 2018, and 2019, and the FAWSL in Europe in 2020–21 and 2021–22, make her the only female football player to have won the Golden Boot in three separate leagues and three different countries.
- She made history by scoring a hat trick at the 2019 World Cup, becoming the first Australian player (male or female) to do so. She led the squad in 2021 to their first-ever semi-final of a significant competition at the postponed 2020 Summer Olympics, earning them their best-ever fourth-place finish.
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- After receiving numerous offers from teams like Olympique Lyonnais, Kerr decided to sign with Chelsea in 2019. While playing for Chelsea, Kerr won eight trophies, including consecutive Women's Super League championships, and helped the team make its first appearance in the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Women's Champions League final in 2021.
- By 2022, Kerr had surpassed Tim Cahill's previous mark of 50 goals and was the all-time leading scorer in the NWSL in the United States. Kerr is also the all-time leading scorer for the Australian national team, both male and female.
- One of the top female footballers and attackers in the world, Kerr is renowned for her "speed, skill, and persistence" and backflip goal celebrations. She is also regarded as one of Australia's greatest athletes.
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