For most 16 year olds, this time of year is all about unwinding and having fun before the new school year.
But, Daniela Galic is no ordinary teenager.
“She will be the future of Australian football, mark my words,” said former Liberty A-League midfielder-turned-pundit Grace Gill during the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup last year.
When you watch Galic play, it’s easy to forget she is just 16, such is her ability and influence on the field. However, Melbourne City’s teenage sensation is lighting up the Liberty A-League in her first season, while preparing to start Year 11.
Galic is in the formative phase of her blooming career, but the hype is real. The noise and the pressure; how does a 16-year-old playmaker deal with it all?
“I try not to read into it too much,” Galic, who is juggling football and education through her club and school, tells KEEPUP. “My parents always tell me at the end of the day, make sure you stay humble.
“Be grateful that I am talented but keep my feet on the ground and keep working hard in training.”
Galic has just finished training as she chats to KEEPUP, with City gearing up for Saturday’s showdown with in-form Western Sydney Wanderers.
That Gill comment is relayed back to the Young Matildas gun, who was a star performer for Australia at last year’s U20 World Cup in Costa Rica.
“It’s obviously a good feeling. (I’m) very honoured for someone to say that. I just hope it can work out like that in the end. It’s up to me really,” Galic replies.
It doesn’t matter what anyone says. It’s up to my performances and how hard I work.
Galic is a surname with a Balkan ring to it. For Daniela, growing up with a Croatian background, football was always on the agenda.
“You know how Croatians are, we love football. All my family played football, so it’s in the family,” says Galic.
“I just started football for fun when I was younger. My parents both played so I would watch them. Having fun and playing football makes me happy.”
A highly-rated talent from Sydney, Galic is enjoying her first season in the Liberty A-League.
She signed her first professional contract at the start of the season and has not looked out of place in a star-studded City team or in the competition.
In nine appearances – eight of those starts – Galic has scored two goals, including a stunning long-range strike against Canberra United last month.
“I’ve been pretty happy with my season so far,” says Galic, who mirrors her game around Barcelona star Aitana Bonmati. “The team is doing well, so it’s easy when you have a good team and players around you.
“Everything is just clicking, which is making everyone look good as individuals. Everything is going to be easier when you have good quality players around you.”
She adds: “Everyone brings their own quality. A lot of chemistry.
Training day in and day out, I’m just going to get better everyday because the quality of players I train with.
Her exploits have earned high praise from head coach Dario Vidosic.
Vidosic, also a playmaker in his day, said he would be “upset” if Galic was not called up by the Matildas.
It comes as the Matildas gear up for next month’s Cup of Nations against Spain, Czech Republic and Jamaica as part of their preparations for this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup on home soil.
“I’d definitely loved to be included in a home World Cup, but at the end of the day it’s up to the coaching staff and what their decision is,” Galic says.
“It’s good my coach has a lot of confidence in me and is trying to push it too but at the end of the season, we will see what happens.
It’s definitely a goal of mine.
It is an exciting time in the women’s game.
From the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand this year, to an expanding Liberty A-League competition.
The Matildas are scheduled to come up against Canada, Republic of Ireland and Nigeria in Group B at the World Cup.
As for the Liberty A-League, there are more matches this season with the introduction of Western United and the competition will get even bigger in 2023-24 when Central Coast Mariners enter the fray.
“It’s great. It’s very exciting to be a part of it and the league. Women’s football is growing and the next year or so is going to be very important and exciting for football,” Galic adds.
I’m sure the World Cup will be great and hopefully I’ll be part of that and history too.
