Karly Roestbakken

Karly Roestbakken has established herself as an emerging leader. On the back of winning the PFA Young Women's Footballer of the Year in 2019, she captained the Young Matildas squad that finished fourth at the 2019 AFC U-19 Women’s Championship in Thailand.

Then, despite being only 18 years of age at the time, Roestbakken was elected co-captain of Canberra United ahead of their 2019-20 campaign. She would lead a team filled with veteran Australians like Leena Khamis and exciting international prospects Simone Charley and Katie Stengel.

Roestbakken was given these responsibilities after making her first senior appearance for the Matildas at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France. She took her opportunity after being selected in the squad as a late injury replacement for Laura Brock.

Roestbakken has recently signed with LSK Kvinner in the Norwegian Toppserien in her father’s country of birth. She will be joining fellow Matildas Clare Polkinghorne, Katrina Gorry and Teagan Micah in the league which is confirmed to resume in July.

Playing primarily as a full-back, Roestbakken faces plenty of competition at international level from Steph Catley and Ellie Carpenter but she will continue to push for selection at the postponed Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games.