Hayley Emma Raso (/ˈræs/ RASS-oh;[2] born 5 September 1994) is an Australian professional soccer player who plays as a winger for Liga F club Real Madrid and the Australia women's national team.

Hayley Raso
Raso with Australia in April 2016
Personal information
Full nameHayley Emma Raso[1]
Date of birth (1994-09-05) 5 September 1994 (age 29)
Place of birthGold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Height1.62 m (5 ft 4 in)
Position(s)Winger, striker
Team information
Current team
Real Madrid
Number15
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2011–2013Canberra United17(4)
2013–2014Brisbane Roar24(7)
2015Washington Spirit9(0)
2015–2016Melbourne Victory (loan)10(1)
2016–2019Portland Thorns FC72(13)
2016–2017Canberra United (loan)11(2)
2017–2019Brisbane Roar (loan)15(5)
2019–2020Brisbane Roar8(4)
2020–2021Everton22(5)
2021–2023Manchester City29(4)
2023–2024Real Madrid28(4)
International career
2013Australia U209(5)
2012–Australia87(18)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14 June 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 3 June 2024

Raso began her senior career with Canberra United in 2011, and was part of the side that won the 2011–12 W-League. Since then, she had played for various clubs in the W-League and the NWSL before playing in the Women's Super League. She joined Manchester City after she was released by Everton on 17 August 2021. On 27 May 2023, it was announced Raso was leaving Women's Super League club Manchester City.

Raso has played on the Australian women's national soccer team, the Matildas, since 2012 and had represented the national team in the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup and the 2020 Summer Olympics. She previously played for the under-20 national team, the Young Matildas.

Raso was shortlisted alongside her Australian teammate Sam Kerr, for the international Ballon d'Or Féminin 2023.[3]

Early life

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Raso was born and raised on the Gold Coast.[4][5] She played junior football for Palm Beach[6] and attended Emmanuel College throughout her schooling.[7]

Club career

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Raso playing for Melbourne Victory, 2016

Canberra United

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Raso was invited to train with the Queensland Academy of Sport, but this did not result in her being awarded a scholarship.[8] Instead, after a successful trial, Raso signed for Canberra United during the 2011–12 W-League season.[9] She made seven league appearances for Canberra that season,[10] and was part of the squad that won the W-League following a victory over Brisbane Roar in the grand final.[8]

Raso remained with Canberra for the 2012–13 season, and scored her first senior goal in a 5–0 victory over Newcastle Jets on 27 October 2012.[11] She played for Canberra in the International Women's Club Championship, but despite scoring the second goal of her career, she was unable to prevent her team from losing 4–3 to NTV Beleza in the third-place playoff.[12] Raso ended the season having scored four goals in ten league games for Canberra.[10]

Brisbane Roar

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Prior to the start of the 2013–14 season, Raso opted to return to Brisbane, and joined Brisbane Roar FC.[13] She made her debut for her new club against Canberra on 9 November, but was unable to prevent Brisbane from losing 3–0.[14] On 1 December 2013, she scored her first goal for Brisbane in a 4–1 victory over Western Sydney Wanderers FC.[15]

Washington Spirit

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In June 2015, Raso was signed to the Washington Spirit of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) upon the conclusion of the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada.[16] She came on in the 73rd minute in her Spirit debut on 18 July 2015 against the Seattle Reign FC, helping preserve a 3–0 victory.[17] She was waived by the Spirit in April 2016.[18]

Portland Thorns FC

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Raso with Portland Thorns FC, 2016

Shortly after being waived by the Spirit, Raso was acquired off waivers by the Portland Thorns FC.[19] In the Thorns first four games of the 2016 season, Raso came on as a second half sub in each. She became a regular starter during the 2017 season due to a long-term injury to Tobin Heath, and scored her first NWSL goal on 28 June 2017.[20] After which she scored five more goals in the regular season, and one in the playoffs to help the Thorns win the 2017 NWSL Championship. She was named 2017 MVP by the Rose City Riveters.[21]

After suffering a partial tear to her lateral collateral ligament during the 2018 AFC Women's Asian Cup, she missed the first 11 games of the 2018 NWSL season.[22] She made her season debut on 16 June and went on to play in 12 games, scoring 2 goals.

Back injury

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On 25 August 2018, while playing for Portland, Raso fractured 3 vertebrae in her back in an on field collision.[23][24] The injury, caused by a knee to the back, left Raso unsure if she would walk again. After extensive rehabilitation,[25][26] Raso returned 6 months after the injury at the 2019 Cup of Nations where she scored in her return match against New Zealand.[27]

Canberra United (loan)

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On 10 October 2016, it was announced Raso would be loaned to Canberra United for the 2016–17 W-League season.[28][29]

Brisbane Roar (loan)

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On 21 September 2017, Raso signed a loan with Brisbane Roar FC for the 2017–18 W-League season.[30] After recovering from a back injury sustained in the 2018 Portland Thorns season, Raso signed another loan agreement with the Roar for the 2018–19 W-League. She made 4 appearances and scored 1 goal.

Everton

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In January 2020, Raso was transferred to Everton in the FA Women's Super League. She would join and be free to play for them from mid February, following an international break. She was released as a free agent by Everton on 17 August 2021.[31][32]

Manchester City

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On 18 August 2021, Raso signed a two-year contract with Manchester City.[33][34] On 31 August, Raso made her Manchester City debut as a second-half substitute in a 1–1 draw with Real Madrid in the UEFA Women's Champions League. On 27 May 2023 it was announced at the final WSL game of Manchester City's season that Raso was leaving the club.

Real Madrid

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On 8 July 2023, Real Madrid announced the signing of Raso.[35] She is the first Australian and the first ever player from the Asian Football Confederation to play for the club's first team.[36]

International career

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In June 2012, Raso was called up to the Australian senior squad for the first time.[37] She made her debut on 24 June, in a 1–1 draw with New Zealand.[38] She was part of the Australian under-20 side at the 2013 AFF Women's Championship, and was part of the side that finished runner-up to Japan's under-23 side.[39] Following this, she returned to the senior side for the matches against China,[40] and played in the match held on 24 November.[41]

Raso was a member of the Matildas Tokyo 2020 Olympics squad. The Matildas qualified for the quarter-finals and beat Great Britain before being eliminated in the semi-final with Sweden. In the playoff for the Bronze medal they were beaten by the USA.[42]

2023 Women's World Cup

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Raso was selected in Australia's squad for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.[43] In Australia's final group match against Canada, Raso scored the first 2 goals of the game in what was a 4-0 win[44] and was judged player of the match.[45]Raso also scored in the Round of 16 match against Denmark.[46]

2024 Summer Olympics

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On 4 June 2024, Raso was named in the Matildas team which qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympics, her second Olympic games selection.[47]

Personal life

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In 2021, Raso co-authored a children's book, Hayley's Ribbon, based on her own early childhood experience.[48][49]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of matches played on 5 October 2023[50]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueFA cupWSL cupContinentalTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Canberra United2011–12W-League7070
2012–13W-League104104
Total174174
Brisbane Roar2013–14W-League144144
2014–15W-League103103
Total247247
Washington Spirit2015NWSL9090
Melbourne Victory (loan)2015–16W-League101101
Portland Thorns2016NWSL210210
2017NWSL247247
2018NWSL122122
2019NWSL144144
Total71137113
Canberra United2016–17W-League112112
Brisbane Roar (loan)2018–19W-League4141
Brisbane Roar2019–20W-League8484
Total125125
Everton2020–21FA WSL2252020265
Manchester City2021–22FA WSL133314020224
2022–23WSL161106420255
Total2944110440479
Real Madrid2023–24Liga F31000031
Career total20842611244023047

International

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As of matches played on 9 April 2024[50]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Australia201220
201320
201461
201530
201600
2017100
201861
2019111
202053
2021120
202284
2023165
202453
Total8618
Scores and results list Australia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Raso goal.
List of international goals scored by Hayley Raso
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
112 March 2014Paralimni Stadium, Paralimni, Cyprus  Italy5–05–22014 Cyprus Cup
210 April 2018Amman International Stadium, Amman, Jordan  Vietnam8–08–02018 AFC Women's Asian Cup
328 February 2019Leichhardt Oval, Sydney, Australia  New Zealand2–02–02019 Cup of Nations
47 February 2020Campbelltown Sports Stadium, Sydney, Australia  Chinese Taipei5–07–02020 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament
510 February 2020  Thailand5–06–0
611 March 2020Cẩm Phả Stadium, Cẩm Phả, Vietnam  Vietnam2–02–1
721 January 2022Mumbai Football Arena, Mumbai, India  Indonesia5–018–02022 AFC Women's Asian Cup
818–0
912 April 2022GIO Stadium, Canberra, Australia  New Zealand2–03–1Friendly
1015 November 2022Central Coast Stadium, Gosford, Australia  Thailand2–02–0
1116 February 2023Industree Group Stadium, Gosford, Australia  Czech Republic1–04–02023 Cup of Nations
122–0
1331 July 2023Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Melbourne, Australia  Canada1–04–02023 FIFA Women's World Cup
142–0
157 August 2023Stadium Australia, Sydney, Australia  Denmark2–02–0
1628 February 2024Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, Australia  Uzbekistan9–010–02024 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament
179 April 2024Toyota Field, San Antonio, United States  Mexico1–02–0Friendly
183 June 2024Stadium Australia, Sydney, Australia  China2–02–0

Honours

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Canberra United FC

Portland Thorns FC

Brisbane Roar FC

Manchester City W.F.C.

Australia

Individual

  • Rose City Riveters Most Valuable Player: 2017[21]

See also

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References

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Further reading

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  • Grainey, Timothy (2012), Beyond Bend It Like Beckham: The Global Phenomenon of Women's Soccer, University of Nebraska Press, ISBN 0803240368
  • Oxenham, Gwendolyn (2017), Under the Lights and In the Dark: Untold Stories of Women's Soccer, Icon Books Limited ISBN 9781785781544
  • Stay, Shane (2019), The Women's World Cup 2019 Book: Everything You Need to Know About the Soccer World Cup, Books on Demand, ISBN 1782551921
  • Theivam, Keiran and Jeff Kassouf (2019), The Making of the Women's World Cup: Defining stories from a sport's coming of age, Little, ISBN 1472143310
  • Various (2019), Stand Up for the Future, Penguin Random House, ISBN 0143794396
  • Williams, Jean (2007), A Beautiful Game: International Perspectives on Women's Football , A&C Black, ISBN 1845206754
  • Williams, Lydia (2019), Saved!, Allen & Unwin, ISBN 9781760871628
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