Matildas defender Kim Carroll joins Glory

Perth Glory FC have completed the signing of defender Kim Carroll on a one-year-deal.

The 27-year-old joins Perth Glory Women for the upcoming Westfield W-League from rivals Brisbane Roar.

Carroll was excited to join Perth Glory and play under Bobby Despotovski’s tutelage.

“I couldn’t resist the opportunity for a fresh start and a new challenge,” Carroll said. “I want to win the (Westfield W-League) Premiership and Championship as a Perth Glory player.”

“I’ve heard good things about Bobby (Despotovski) as a player, coach and person. I’m hoping he can challenge me as a player to push me to another level.”

Despotovski was equally pleased to sign the ex-Roar defender, lauding Carroll as a “leader on the park.”

“She strengthens our defence and slots in perfectly,” Despotovski said. “Carroll organises the whole defence with her experience.”

“She drops into the central role in the heart of defence. She’s a leader on the park.”

Carroll has an impressive pedigree in the Women’s game. She is capped 54 times for the Matildas over 10 years, scoring 2 goals, including the opener against South Korea in the 2010 AFC Women’s Asian Cup group stages.

Carroll also started in all four games in the Matilda’s 2011 Women’s World Cup campaign, and won the U20 OFC Women’s Championship in 2004. Carroll is currently pushing for Matildas selection, after just missing out on selection for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Germany.

The Queensland-born defender began her Westfield W-League career at Brisbane Roar in 2008, playing for the club for 6 years. In that time, Carroll made 46 appearances and scored 2 goals, whilst winning  the Westfield W-League Premiership and Championship in 2008-09, and a second Championship in season 2010-11.

Carroll also gained valuable experience from a stint with Danish side Fortuna Hjørring, where she competed in the Women’s European Champions League.

She is set to join the Perth Glory squad in September in preparation for the 2015-16 Westfield W-League season.

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