:Michaela Foster

{{Short description|New Zealand association football player (born 1999)}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Michaela Foster

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| fullname = Michaela Leigh Foster

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|1|9|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Hamilton, New Zealand{{Cite web |title=NZ Football |url=https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/nzfootball/ford-football-ferns-squad/michaela-foster |website=www.nzfootball.co.nz |access-date=14 July 2023 |archive-date=23 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230723015843/https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/ford-football-ferns-squad/michaela-foster |url-status=live }}

| height = 1.73m{{Cite web |date=11 July 2023 |title=FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™ Squad Lists |url=https://fdp.fifa.org/assetspublic/ce93/pdf/SquadLists-English.pdf |access-date=16 July 2023 |publisher=FIFA |page=19 |archive-date=15 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230715141948/https://fdp.fifa.org/assetspublic/ce93/pdf/SquadLists-English.pdf |url-status=live }}

| position = Left Back

| currentclub = Durham

| clubnumber = 20

| youthyears1 = |youthclubs1 = Claudelands Rovers

| youthyears2 = |youthclubs2 = Hamilton Wanderers

| collegeyears1 = 2018–2021 | college1 = San Diego Toreros | collegecaps1 = 44 | collegegoals1 = 6

| years1 = 2022 | clubs1 = Northern Rovers | caps1 = | goals1 =

| years2 = 2022–2024 | clubs2 = Wellington Phoenix | caps2 = 37 | goals2 = 2

| years3 = 2024 | clubs3 = Auckland United | caps3 = 0 | goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2024- | clubs4 = Durham | caps4 = 10 | goals4 = 2

| nationalyears1 = 2016 |nationalcaps1 = 10 |nationalgoals1 = 2 |nationalteam1 =New Zealand U17

| nationalyears2 = 2017–2018 |nationalcaps2 = 5 |nationalgoals2 = 3 |nationalteam2 =New Zealand U20

| nationalyears3 = 2023– |nationalcaps3 = 22 |nationalgoals3 = 1 |nationalteam3 =New Zealand

| pcupdate = 3 February 2025

| ntupdate = 31 July 2024

}}

Michaela Leigh Foster is a New Zealand footballer who plays for Durham and the New Zealand national team.{{Cite web |date=22 February 2023 |title=All Blacks coach beams as his daughter Michaela makes her New Zealand debut – Taipei Times |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/sport/archives/2023/02/22/2003794825 |website=www.taipeitimes.com |access-date=14 July 2023 |archive-date=14 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230714094153/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/sport/archives/2023/02/22/2003794825 |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |title=From working in a supermarket to Women's World Cup |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65966148 |access-date=14 July 2023 |archive-date=14 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230714094427/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65966148 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Playing at home: Michaela Foster on her first senior Ferns tour, making her debut, and "gamechanger" upgrades |url=https://www.sporty.co.nz/comethelp/newsarticle/125405?newsfeedid=787820 |website=www.sporty.co.nz |access-date=14 July 2023 |archive-date=14 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230714094428/https://www.sporty.co.nz/comethelp/newsarticle/125405?newsfeedid=787820 |url-status=live }}

Early and personal life

Michaela Leigh Foster is the daughter of Ian Foster, a former rugby union player who coaches the All Blacks. In November 2022, she got engaged to her girlfriend.{{Cite web |date=14 July 2023 |title=Top footballer Michaela Foster celebrates engagement |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/michaela-foster-celebrates-engagement-to-partner/FG2SGME7VVHKXMHFBBXW3MGJCE/ |website=NZ Herald |access-date=14 July 2023 |archive-date=12 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230712215928/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/michaela-foster-celebrates-engagement-to-partner/FG2SGME7VVHKXMHFBBXW3MGJCE/ |url-status=live }} She attended Hamilton Girls' High School, later working in its sports department while a National League player.{{Cite web |last=Rollo |first=Phillip |date=10 March 2023 |title=Michaela Foster on how her football exploits were a welcome distraction for All Blacks coach dad |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/world-cup/131432968/michaela-foster-on-how-her-football-exploits-were-a-welcome-distraction-for-all-blacks-coach-dad |website=Stuff |access-date=14 July 2023 |archive-date=14 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230714094152/https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/world-cup/131432968/michaela-foster-on-how-her-football-exploits-were-a-welcome-distraction-for-all-blacks-coach-dad |url-status=live }}

Club career

Foster played college soccer at the University of San Diego in California for four years and, upon her return to New Zealand, worked different jobs while playing for Northern Rovers in the National League.

Though a recognised youth international, she did not play for a top-flight football team until she was 24, when she joined Wellington Phoenix in October 2022 ahead of the A-League Women season. She had been offered a scholarship position on the squad, with a lower wage; with good performances despite the team's poor results, and having played every minute for the team, she was given a full contract after four matches. Foster is considered the set-piece specialist of the team.

In June 2024, Foster joined Auckland United.{{cite web|url=https://www.aucklandunitedfc.org.nz/news/football-fern-michaela-foster-signs-with-auckland-united-fc|title=Football Fern Michaela Foster signs with Auckland United FC|first=Sam|last=Smith|website=Auckland United|date=21 June 2024}}

International career

As a youth international, Foster captained New Zealand's under-17 and under-20 teams at their respective youth World Cups in 2016 and 2018. The under-17 coach said that while it can be hard to identify leaders in the youth levels, Foster stood out for her mana.

After her successful debut season in the A-League, Foster was called up to the senior New Zealand national team in February 2023, making her debut on 20 February 2023 in a friendly against Argentina.{{Cite web |date=21 February 2023 |title=Michaela Foster makes Football Ferns debut at stadium 'that always felt like home' |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/world-cup/131274054/michaela-foster-makes-football-ferns-debut-at-stadium-that-always-felt-like-home |access-date=16 July 2023 |website=Stuff |archive-date=16 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230716114126/https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/world-cup/131274054/michaela-foster-makes-football-ferns-debut-at-stadium-that-always-felt-like-home |url-status=live }} She had originally been included only as a training player unavailable for selection, but with injury to Rebekah Stott was added to the squad. On 30 June 2023, Foster was called up to the New Zealand squad for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.{{Cite web |date=30 June 2023 |title=Football Ferns squad named for FIFA Women's World Cup |url=https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/130236 |publisher=New Zealand Football |access-date=16 July 2023 |archive-date=16 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230716114127/https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/130236 |url-status=live }}

On 4 July 2024, Foster was called up to the New Zealand squad for the 2024 Summer Olympics.{{cite web|url=https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/142844|title= Women's football squad announced for Paris 2024|publisher=New Zealand Football|date=4 July 2024}}

Career statistics

=International=

{{updated|match played on 1 August 2024.}}{{Cite web |title=Caps 'n' Goals|url=https://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/FootballFerns/id38.htm |access-date=31 August 2024 |website=ultimatenzsoccer.com }}

National team	Year	Apps
class=wikitable style=text-align:center \|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year
rowspan=2\|New Zealand \|2023	10	0
2024	12	1
colspan=2\|Total\|\|22\|\|1

=International goals=

No.	Cap	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
class="wikitable"
1.	12	10 February 2024	FFS Football Stadium, Apia, Samoa	{{fbw\|SAM}}	align=center\|6–0	align=center\| 6–0	2024 OFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament