30 Fascinating Facts About Sam Kerr You Probably Didn’t Know

Sam Kerr, an acclaimed female footballer and striker, has captured the hearts of soccer fans worldwide with her extraordinary speed, skill, tenacity, and signature backflip goal celebrations. Notably, she has been a consistent nominee for the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year Award from 2018 to 2021, establishing herself as one of the sport’s leading figures.

In 2021, she ventured into children’s literature with her autobiographical football-themed book series, “Kicking Goals,” starting with “The Flip Out.” Here, we delve into 30 intriguing facts about Sam Kerr that may have escaped your notice.

Sam Kerr’s outstanding contributions to football earned her the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2022, making her only the second Australian female footballer to receive this prestigious honor.

Kerr is not only an icon in Australia but also internationally, being the first and only Australian women’s footballer to make the Ballon d’Or Féminin shortlist. She has been nominated in all editions of the award since its inception in 2018, ranking among the top players.

She stands alone as the only female football player to have clinched the Golden Boot in three different leagues and three different continents: the W-League in Australia, the NWSL in North America, and the FAWSL in Europe.

During the 2019 World Cup, Kerr etched her name in history by becoming the first Australian player, male or female, to score a hat trick at a World Cup tournament.

Sam Kerr’s remarkable consistency shines through in her appearances on The Best FIFA Women’s Player shortlist since 2017, consistently ranking among the world’s top players.

Moving beyond her on-field achievements, let’s take a closer look at the woman behind the legend.

Born on September 10, 1993, in East Fremantle, Western Australia, Sam Kerr’s athletic genes run deep in her family. Her father, Roger Kerr, was a professional Australian rules footballer, born in Kolkata, India, with a unique blend of English and Indian heritage.

Kerr’s mother comes from a family of professional footballers in the West Australian Football League, and her uncle, J. J. Miller, achieved fame as a champion jockey who won the Melbourne Cup in 1966.

Sam’s older brother, Daniel Alan Kerr, followed in their father’s footsteps as a former Australian rules footballer, playing for the West Coast Eagles in the AFL.

In her formative years, Sam Kerr played Australian rules football with her father and brother. Due to gender restrictions in the sport, she eventually transitioned to soccer, where she found her true calling.

Recognizing her exceptional athletic abilities at the age of 13, Perth Glory striker Bobby Despotovski scouted Sam Kerr and acknowledged her exceptional athleticism and raw talent.

Kerr’s soccer journey commenced as a junior with Western Knights in Mosman Park, leading to her trial for the Western Australian State Team before making the switch to Perth Glory.

At just 15, she made her debut for Perth Glory in the 2009 W-League season and was honored as the Players’ Player, thanks to her exceptional talent and skills.

Sam Kerr’s soccer career took an international turn when she scored her first international goal at the age of 16 during the 2010 AFC Women’s Asian Cup final against North Korea, marking a significant milestone.

In 2013, Kerr signed with the Western New York Flash and made a significant impact, playing in 19 out of 21 games and scoring six goals during the season.

During the 2014 season, Kerr continued to shine, starting all 20 matches for the Western New York Flash and becoming the team’s leading scorer with an impressive tally of nine goals.

Kerr’s international journey began early when, at the age of 17, she was named to Australia’s 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup squad, marking her World Cup debut with a substitute appearance against Brazil.

Returning to Perth Glory in August 2014 on a one-year deal, she had to contend with a shortened regular season due to a non-contact ankle injury.

Despite the setback, Perth Glory recognized her talent, offering a one-year contract extension. During this season, Kerr scored ten goals, leading the team to the Grand Final, where she was honored with the Julie Dolan Medal and the Penny Tanner Media MVP Award.

Kerr’s significance in women’s soccer became even more apparent in 2018 when she became the first marquee player of the W-League and was reportedly offered a remarkable $400,000 contract to stay in Perth.

The year 2017 marked a turning point in Sam Kerr’s career when she emerged as the top goalscorer at the inaugural Tournament of Nations in the United States, a tournament that included a memorable hat-trick against Japan, leading to her being named the 2017 AFC Women’s Footballer of the Year.

In the 2017 NWSL season, Kerr set a new record by scoring four goals in a single game, leading her team to a remarkable comeback from a 3-0 deficit against Seattle Reign at halftime.

Throughout that season, she established herself as the all-time NWSL top goalscorer, ending the season with a record-breaking 17 goals. Her incredible performance earned her both the NWSL Golden Boot and MVP awards.

Kerr’s scoring prowess continued in the 2018 season, where she scored 16 goals and secured the Golden Boot for the second consecutive season, becoming the first player to achieve this feat in the NWSL.

The accolades didn’t stop there. In 2019, she was named the NWSL MVP, making her the first and, as of now, the only NWSL player to receive this prestigious award twice.

In February 2019, Sam Kerr’s leadership qualities were recognized when she was named the captain of the Australian national team under newly appointed head coach Ante Milicic.

In November 2019, Chelsea announced the signing of Sam Kerr for the second half of the 2019–20 FA WSL season on a two-and-a-half year contract, marking a significant move to the English Women’s Super League.

Sam Kerr’s impact at Chelsea was immediate, as she ended the 2021 season as the leading goalscorer in the WSL, with 23 goals, and second in total assists with 10, second only to her teammate Fran Kirby.

Beginning 2022, Sam Kerr continued her goal-scoring spree by netting 10 goals in seven consecutive matches, a historic achievement that made her the first Chelsea player to achieve such a feat.

As of the latest available data, Sam Kerr’s net worth stands at an impressive $1.5 million, reflecting not only her talent but also her marketability and impact on the sport.