Holly McNamara

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Holly McNamara

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| fullname = Holly Christina McNamara{{Cite web|title=Holly McNamara – Soccerway |url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/holly-christina-mcnamara/630991/|publisher=Perform Group|work=Soccerway |date=18 January 2022 |accessdate=18 January 2022}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|2003|1|23}}

| birth_place = Australia

| height =

| position = Forward

| currentclub = Melbourne City

| clubnumber = 9

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = Football NSW-FNSW Institute

| years1 = 2021–

| clubs1 = Melbourne City

| caps1 = 36

| goals1 = 26

| years2 = 2023

| clubs2 = APIA Leichhardt

| caps2 = 17

| goals2 = 10

| nationalyears1 = 2018

| nationalteam1 = Australia U17

| nationalcaps1 = 0

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 2022–

| nationalteam2 = Australia

| nationalcaps2 = 7

| nationalgoals2 = 0

| club-update = 18 April 2025

| nationalteam-update = 7 April 2025

}}

Holly Christina McNamara (born 23 January 2003) is an Australian soccer player who plays for Melbourne City in the A-League Women and the Australia women's national soccer team (the Matildas).{{Cite web|url=https://www.theinnersanctum.com.au/melbourne-city-sign-three-young-guns/|title=McNamara signed for Melbourne City|work=The Inner Sanctum|date=18 September 2021|access-date=18 September 2021}}

Early and personal life

McNamara grew up in New South Wales and played for FNSW Institute in New South Wales.{{Cite web|url=https://sport.optus.com.au/articles/os37428/who-is-holly-mcnamara-matildas-analysis|title=McNamara the 18 year-old Matildas bolter|work=Optus Sport|date=17 January 2022|access-date=17 January 2022|last=Lordanic|first=Marissa}}

Club career

In December 2021, McNamara made her A-League Women debut for Melbourne City in a 1–0 win over Canberra United, starting the match and playing the full 90 minutes, along with scoring the game's only goal.{{cite web|url=https://melbournecityfc.com.au/news/match-report-canberra-0-1-city|title=McNamara scores on debut for Melbourne City|publisher=Melbourne City|date=3 December 2021|access-date=3 December 2021}} In February 2022, McNamara suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament injury in a match against Sydney FC, which ended her debut season.{{cite news|url=https://thewomensgame.com/news/matildas-mcnamara-acl-blow-confirmed-576381|title=Matildas' McNamara ACL blow confirmed|last=Harrington|first=Anna|work=The Women's Game|date=22 February 2022|access-date=3 January 2023}} McNamara won the 2024–25 season golden boot, scoring 15 goals in 17 appearances.{{cite web|url=https://melbournecityfc.com.au/news/20250420-mcnamara-wins-golden-boot/|title=OUR GOLDEN GIRL: McNamara takes out A-League Women’s Golden Boot|publisher=Melbourne City|date=20 April 2025|access-date=21 April 2025}}

International career

In 2018, McNamara was a part of the Junior Matildas team ahead of their 2019 AFC U-16 Women's Championship qualification campaign, however she tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) before she had the chance to make her debut.{{cite web|url=https://7news.com.au/sport/soccer/citys-mcnamara-making-up-for-lost-time-c-5229509|date=8 January 2022|title=McNamara making up for lost time|website=7 News|access-date=8 January 2022}}

After an impactful first five games for Melbourne City FC in the A-League Women, McNamara was called up by the Matildas for the first time. She participated in a training camp ahead of the 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup,{{cite web|url=https://www.matildas.com.au/news/initial-selections-2022-afc-womens-asian-cup|title=Matildas announce initial selections for Asian Cup|website=Matildas|publisher=Football Australia|date=14 January 2022|access-date=14 January 2022}} and on 17 January 2022, McNamara was added into the official squad for the tournament along with Cortnee Vine.{{cite web|url=https://www.matildas.com.au/news/forwards-holly-mcnamara-and-cortnee-vine-complete-23-player-afc-womens-asian-cup-squad|title=McNamara and Vine added to Asian Cup Squad|website=Matildas|publisher=Football Australia|date=17 January 2022|access-date=17 January 2022}}

McNamara was recalled to the Matildas on 18 November 2023 for two international friendly matches against Canada.{{cite web|url=https://www.matildas.com.au/news/gustavsson-names-23-player-commbank-matildas-squad-close-out-2023-international-season|title=Gustavsson names 23-player CommBank Matildas squad to close out 2023 international season|publisher=Football Australia|website=Matildas|date=18 November 2023|access-date=18 November 2023}} Days before she was set to link up with the squad, McNamara ruptured her ACL for the third time.{{cite web|url=https://www.matildas.com.au/news/holly-mcnamara-sustains-long-term-injury|title=Holly McNamara sustains long-term injury|website=Matildas|publisher=Football Australia|date=24 November 2023|access-date=27 March 2025}}

On 4 February 2025, McNamara was named in the Matildas squad for the SheBelieves Cup.{{cite web|url=https://melbournecityfc.com.au/news/20250204-mcnamara-earns-matildas-call-up|title=CALLED UP: McNamara bound for SheBelieves Cup with Matildas|publisher=Melbourne City FC|date=4 February 2025|access-date=27 March 2025}} After 1,119 days, McNamara made her return to the Matildas against Japan, coming on as a substitute in the 64th minute.{{cite web|url=https://www.matildas.com.au/news/commbank-matildas-suffer-4-0-defeat-shebelieves-cup-opener|title=CommBank Matildas suffer 4-0 defeat against Japan in SheBelieves Cup opener|publisher=Football Australia|website=Matildas|date=21 February 2025|access-date=27 March 2025}}

References

Category:2003 births

Category:Melbourne City FC (women) players

Category:Australian women's soccer players

Category:21st-century Australian sportswomen

Category:Living people

Category:Women's association football players not categorized by position

Category:Australia women's international soccer players

Category:Sportswomen from New South Wales

Category:Soccer players from New South Wales

Category:Women's association football forwards