Matildas great Kyah Simon has come full circle, signing on to return to the Liberty A-League with the Central Coast Mariners almost exactly 15 years after making her senior debut with the club.
The 32-year-old arrives home after three years abroad with PSV Eindhoven and Tottenham Hotspur to join the Central Coast outfit for their re-introduction into the competition where she is currently the fourth-top scorer in history with 50 goals across stints with the Mariners, Sydney FC and Melbourne City.
Only Michelle Heyman, Sam Kerr and Tameka Yallop, who has also returned home after the Matildas’ history-making Women’s World Cup campaign, have outscored the forward, who took home the 2010-11 Julie Dolan Medal and Golden Boot.
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“I’m really pleased to have signed for Central Coast and to be back here in Australia playing
in the A-League,” Simon said.
“Mariners being my first A-League club in the inaugural season, they’ve always held a special place in my heart and it’s a real full circle moment for me,”
“The closer I came to this decision, the more it felt right for a number of reasons, coming off
a really difficult 10 or so months it was a priority of mine to be somewhere I felt supported
and to be in an environment surrounded by the best medical care and resources.
“I can’t wait to get out on the pitch with the girls and hopefully can help the team in any way I can in making this season a special and memorable one.”
Simon was a part of Tony Gustavsson’s 23-player squad that captivated Australia on home soil but did not get the chance to add to her 111 appearances and 29 goals for Australia after suffering setbacks in her recovery from an ACL injury that saw her sit out much of last season.
She joins a growing group of high-profile Matildas who are gearing up for this Liberty A-League season, alongside Yallop, Cortnee Vine, Lydia Williams, Elise Kellond-Knight, Emily Gielnik and Chloe Logarzo.
Simon burst onto the scene with the Mariners in the inaugural season of the competition way back in 2008-09, scoring five goals in nine matches aged just 17 and earning herself a move to Sydney FC, where she claimed a Premiership-Championship double and started in the Grand Final.
The forward was also part of the Sydney squad that won the 2010-11 Premiership and 2012-13 Championship, along with City’s 2017-18 title-winning team.
She has enjoyed a decorated career abroad and with the national team, scoring the winning penalty for Australia to win the 2010 Asian Cup, appearing at the 2011 and 2015 Women’s World Cups and also playing at the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games.
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Mariners coach Emily Husband said she’s looking forward to welcoming Simon into the squad ahead of their return to the competition.
“The versatility and quality Kyah possesses as a forward, who has experience in some of the best leagues in women’s football, is an exciting signing for us,” Husband said.
“Her international career speaks for itself as she has scored in both the Olympic Games and
World Cups.
“To bring that experience and proven ability to score in big moments to the Central Coast is excellent. Kyah has a fantastic character, and she will make an immediate impact on the group.”
Central Coast begin their season against Newcastle Jets at Industree Group Stadium on October 14.
Kyah Simon’s A-Leagues CV
- 108 appearances
- 50 goals
- Six Grand Finals
- Four Championships
- 2010-11 Julie Dolan Medal
- 2010-11 Golden Boot
- 2010-11 Young Player of the Year
