Victoria Esson

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Victoria Esson

| image =

| caption =

| height = 1.75 m

| fullname = Victoria Lucy Esson{{cite web |url=https://fdp.fifa.org/assetspublic/ce5/pdf/SquadLists-English.pdf |title=Women's Olympic Football Tournament Tokyo 2020: Squad list, New Zealand |work=FIFA |page=9 |date=7 July 2021 |access-date=7 July 2021}}

| position = Goalkeeper

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1991|3|6|df=yes}}{{cite web|title=Victoria Esson FIFA profile|url=https://www.fifa.com/fifa-tournaments/players-coaches/people=301468/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306051041/http://www.fifa.com/fifa-tournaments/players-coaches/people=301468/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 March 2016|website=Fédération Internationale de Football Association|access-date=9 May 2018}}

| birth_place = Christchurch, New Zealand{{cite web|title=Victoria Esson Texas Tech Profile|url=https://texastech.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=1463|website=Texas Tech|access-date=9 May 2018}}

| currentclub = Wellington Phoenix

| clubnumber =

| collegeyears1 = 2012–2013

| college1 = Texas Tech

| collegecaps1 = 40

| collegegoals1 = 0

| years1 = 2014

| clubs1 = Avaldsnes IL

| years2 = 2014

| clubs2 = Coastal Spirit FC

| caps1 =

| goals1 =

| years3 = 2014

| clubs3 = Mainland Pride

| caps2 =

| goals2 =

| years4 = 2017–2018

| clubs4 = North Shore United (Seagulls)

| caps3 = 36

| goals3 = 0

| years5 = 2019–2022

| clubs5 = Avaldsnes

| caps4 = 46

| goals4 = 0

| years6 = 2022

| clubs6 = SC Sand

| caps5 = 4

| goals5 = 0

| years7 = 2022–2025

| clubs7 = Rangers

| caps6 = 12

| goals6 = 0

| years8 = 2025-

| clubs8 = Wellington Phoenix

| nationalyears1 = 2008

| nationalcaps1 = 3

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalteam1 = New Zealand U-17

| nationalyears2 = 2017–

| nationalcaps2 = 28

| nationalgoals2 = 0

| nationalteam2 = New Zealand

| pcupdate = 24 June 2025

| ntupdate = 26 June 2025

| caps7 = 44

| goals7 = 0

| caps8 = 0

| goals8 = 0

}}

Victoria Lucy Esson (born 6 March 1991) is a New Zealand professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Wellington Phoenix and represents New Zealand at international level.{{cite web|url=https://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/FootballFerns/id38.htm|title=Caps 'n' Goals, New Zealand Women's national representatives|publisher=The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website|access-date=9 May 2018}}

Early life

Esson started playing football at the age of 10 for Halswell United.{{cite web|title=Victoria Esson UltimateNZ Soccer profile|url=https://www.ultimatenzsoccer.com/RoleModels/victoria_esson.htm|website=UltimateNZSoccer|access-date=9 May 2018}} At first a midfielder and later defender, she became a goalkeeper at the age of 17. Playing for Burnside High School, Esson became the team captain and played at Secondary School tournaments, getting selected to be part of South Island Secondary Schoolgirls squad and the Mainland's U-14 and U-16 squads.

Club career

Esson went to Texas Tech in 2011, becoming Tech's first-ever international football play in the school's history.{{cite web|title=Victoria Esson: From New Zealand to Texas Tech|url=https://texastech.com/news/2011/8/4/Victoria_Esson_From_New_Zealand_to_Texas_Tech.aspx|website=Texas Tech|access-date=9 May 2018|date=4 August 2011}} Esson became Tech's all-time leader in career shut-outs, career goals against and set school records for single season and consecutive shut-outs. Esson also broke the Big 12 Conference record for single season shut-outs with 15 in 2013. Esson ended her time in goal at Tech, winning 41 of their 62 games, including six draws. After graduating, Esson signed with Avaldsnes IL. Struggling to adapt, she returned to New Zealand after just six weeks.{{cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/fifa-womens-world-cup-2023/132558871/fifa-womens-world-cup-how-football-ferns-goalkeeper-vic-esson-was-forged-in-norway|title=FIFA Women's World Cup: How Football Ferns goalkeeper Vic Esson was forged in Norway|publisher=Stuff|first=Andrew|last=Voerman|date=19 July 2023|accessdate=1 August 2023}} She signed with Coastal Spirit FC, but missed most of the season with an injured hand.

In 2014, Esson was captain of Mainland Pride{{cite news|last1=Egan|first1=Brendon|title=New Pride captain a real keeper|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/sport/10604633/New-Pride-captain-a-real-keeper|access-date=9 May 2018|work=The Press|date=11 October 2014}} as they won the National Women's League, the top-flight women's football tournament of New Zealand.{{cite news|title=Mainland Pride retain ASB Women's League title|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/63917977/mainland-pride-retain-asb-womens-league-title|access-date=9 May 2018|publisher=Stuff|date=7 December 2014}} In 2019, Esson signed with Avaldsnes again, this time playing for three years.

In February 2022, following the injury of first goalkeeper Jasmin Pal, Esson was signed by SC Sand.{{cite web|url=https://www.sc-sand.de/Artikel/41435/SC-Sand-verpflichtet-Torhueterin-Victoria-Esson|title=SC Sand verpflichtet Torhüterin Victoria Esson|trans-title=SC Sand sign goalkeeper Victoria Esson|language=de|publisher=SC Sand|date=1 February 2022}}

In July 2022, Esson joined Scottish club Rangers.{{cite news|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/women-in-sport/300642366/football-ferns-standout-vic-esson-joins-scottish-champions-rangers|title=Football Ferns standout Vic Esson joins Scottish champions Rangers|newspaper=Stuff|date=21 July 2022}}

International career

Esson was a member of the New Zealand U-17 side at the 2008 held in New Zealand, playing all three of three of New Zealand's group games. She was also part of the New Zealand U-20 teams for the 2008 and 2010 Women's World Cups but didn't make an appearance on the field.

Esson made her senior debut for the senior New Zealand team, the Football Ferns, against Thailand. Coming on as a sub in the 80th minute in their 5–0 win.{{cite web|title=Football Ferns too good for Thailand|url=http://www.sporty.co.nz/nff/newsarticle/55941|website=Northern Football Ferderation|access-date=9 May 2018}}{{cite news|title=Football Ferns duo Abby Erceg, Sarah Gregorius out of retirement to face Scotland|url=http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/2018/02/football-ferns-duo-abby-erceg-sarah-gregorius-out-of-retirement-to-face-scotland.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180509080413/http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/2018/02/football-ferns-duo-abby-erceg-sarah-gregorius-out-of-retirement-to-face-scotland.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 May 2018|access-date=9 May 2018|publisher=Stuff|date=9 February 2018}}

In April 2019, Esson was named to the final 23-player squad for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/football-ferns-squad-revealed-for-world-cup/FAN246JOVXUVYXAS2EPVRMRVBE/|title=Football Ferns squad revealed for World Cup|website=New Zealand Herald |date=28 April 2019 }}

On 25 June 2021, Esson was called up to the New Zealand squad for the delayed 2020 Summer Olympics.{{cite web| url= https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/105080?newsfeedId=1275622| title= Squads named for Tokyo 2020| date= 25 June 2021| publisher= New Zealand Football| language= en| access-date= 25 June 2021| archive-date= 25 June 2021| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210625021412/https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/105080?newsfeedId=1275622| url-status= dead}}

Esson was called up to the New Zealand squad for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.{{cite web |title=Football Ferns squad named for FIFA Women's World Cup |url=https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/130236?newsfeedId=1275622 |publisher=New Zealand Football |date=30 June 2023}} She was the starting goalie for New Zealand in all the games in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.[https://www.burlingtontoday.com/national-sports/co-host-new-zealand-out-of-womens-world-cup-following-0-0-draw-with-swiss-7344801 Co-host New Zealand out of Women's World Cup following 0–0 draw with Swiss]

On 4 July 2024, Esson 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}}

Personal life

Esson completed her degree in wind, energy and industrial engineering while she was playing football at Texas Tech. Afterwards she got a job at the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority.[https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/fifa-womens-world-cup-the-remarkable-journey-of-football-ferns-goalkeeper-victoria-esson/XSTOKAVKPBET5D577WIN2OJ2JI/ Fifa Women’s World Cup: The remarkable journey of Football Ferns goalkeeper Victoria Esson]

Honours

;Individual

Mainland Football Womens Goalkeeper of the Year: 2014{{Cite web|url=https://www.sporty.co.nz/asset/downloadasset?id=9d35afe0-cf96-472b-bf98-2f65b8c6d49f |title=ANNUAL REPORT 2012 |access-date=13 March 2025}}