Brisbane Roar have pulled off a major coup ahead of the the 2023-24 Liberty A-League season with the signing of Matilda Tameka Yallop on a multi-year deal.
The 32-year-old midfielder returns to the Roar after two separate stints at the club, including a 10-year spell between 2008 and 2018 where she won the Liberty A-League Championship in 2009 and 2011 along with three Premierships (2009, 2013 and 2018).
The Matilda also took home the Julie Dolan Medal in the 2013-14 season.
Yallop most recently spent two seasons at Brisbane from 2019 to 2021, after a short spell at Melbourne City, before departing for English powerhouse West Ham United.
She also plied her trade for a myriad of overseas clubs including Boston Breakers, FFC Frankfurt, Iga F.C. Kunoichi, Mallbackens, and Klepp IL – but most recently at Brann.
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The Matildas midfielder has 112 caps to her name, including taking part in five Asian Cups, four FIFA Women’s World Cups, including in 2023, where she came on and scored a clutch penalty in the shootout victory over France in the quarter finals.
“I’m excited to be home. Having a World Cup at home just brings the nostalgia back to returning to Brisbane Roar as well, where I did a fair chunk of my youth football. The timing couldn’t be better,” Yallop said.
“Not only how far we went in the tournament, but it’s great knowing there’s going to be more opportunities for younger players coming through, better training facilities, more coaches available to them, and the fact that it’s going to keep growing and going up from here is exciting.
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“I have a lot to offer for younger players coming through and balancing out the team. Having a range in the age group really shapes the team so I’m looking forward to providing that experience.
“The very first inaugural season, winning the Championship is a very fond memory of mine, I am always chasing that feeling again. That will be our team’s aspirations this season and mine as well.”
Roar coach Garrath McPherson hopes Yallop can not only have an impact on the field, but also off it as she provides invaluable leadership to the host of youngsters coming through their ranks.
“Tameka is a role model for the next generation of Brisbane Roar footballers,” Head Coach Garrath McPherson said.
“Having her return home to her family, friends and football club is something that is sure to excite the whole city.”
“She has been overseas competing in the world’s best competitions for a number of years and we are proud that she has returned to us to continue her career.
“She played an important role for the Matildas across their World Cup campaign and no doubt loved being back home during this time. I am happy that she gets to continue her career with her loved ones nearby.
“She has a real opportunity to share this mindset within the locker room. As a central midfielder, creating and scoring goals have been trademarks of her career and having her back in orange provides us another attacking weapon for the seasons ahead.”
Yallop is the club’s fifth off-season arrival, joining Keeley Richards (Canberra United), Ruby Cuthbert, Jenna McCormick (Adelaide United), Hannah Holgersen (Adelaide United) as Brisbane’s latest arrivals.
