Clare Polkinghorne's partner, age, stats, parents, current team

Clare Polkinghorne's partner, age, stats, parents, current team

Helix Odhiambo
updated at August 23, 2023 at 2:34 PM

Clare Polkinghorne is a talented football defender and one of the most respected Australian athletes. She is the heart and soul of the Australian women's national team. Rumours about Clare Polkinghorne's partner and how they met have made some fans even more curious about her life outside of football. This article answers all your questions and doubts about the Australian athlete.

Clare Polkinghorne's age
Clare Polkinghorne of Australia in action during the Women's International friendly match against Portugal at Estadio Antonio Coimbra da Mota on 28 June 2022 in Estoril, Portugal. Photo: Gualter Fatia
Source: Getty Images

Polkinghorne plays for a Swedish Damallsvenskan club called Vittsjo GIK. She is known for her strong defensive performances and leadership abilities. The defender has inspired many young ladies and helped advance the sport. We bring you everything about her, including her background, family, partner, and net worth.

Clare Polkinghorne's profile

Full name

Clare Elizabeth Polkinghorne

Date of birth

1 February 1988

Age

34 (as of August 2023)

Place of birth

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Nationality

Australia

Height

1.71 m

Weight

67 kg

Education

Griffith University

Profession

Football player

Position

Defender

Teams

Australian national women's team, Vittsjö GIK

Parents

Anthony and Britha Polkinghorne

Siblings

Liam, Tom

Partner

Elyse Nayler

Net worth

$1.5 million

Social media

Instagram, Twitter

How old is Clare Polkinghorne?

Clare Polkinghorne's age is 34 (as of August 2023). She was born in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. The footballer grew up alongside her two siblings, Liam and Tom. Clare Polkinghorne's parents are called Anthony and Britha Polkinghorne.

What do Clare Polkinghorne's siblings do?

Clare Polkinghorne's brother
Clare Polkinghorne of Australia poses with her mother and siblings after playing her 150th international match during the 2023 Cup of Nations match against Spain at CommBank Stadium on 19 February 2023 in Sydney, Australia. Photo: Matt King
Source: Getty Images

Clare Polkinghorne's brothers chose different paths from sports. The elder one, Liam, is a Data Engineer in Leidos, Australia. He graduated with a Bachelor of Mathematics, Cryptography, Operations Research, and Statistics from QUT in 2015.

Tom is the younger one, working as a consultant at Tax & Legal in Deloitte. He completed a Bachelor of Laws and Business Accountancy from Queensland University of Technology in 2018. Liam and Tom have always supported their sister by attending her games and motivating her.

Clare Polkinghorne's education

Liam's sister enrolled at Griffith University after completing her high school education. She later studied Psychological Science with Honours between 2007-2013 and graduated with a Class 1 Honours Grade. Clare also pursued a Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice in 2007. She also did a Master of Criminology and Criminal Justice studies in 2015.

Is Clare Polkinghorne married?

The footballer is not married but in a relationship with Elyse Nayler. The couple share a strong bond and have been together for a while. Details of Clare Polkinghorne's kids remain unknown. She reportedly has no children.

Who does Polkinghorne play for?

Clare Polkinghorne's current team is Vittsjö GIK of the Damallsvenskan, Sweden's top-tier women's football league. She joined the club in 2020 from Avaldsnes.

What position does Clare Polkinghorne play?

Polkinghorne is a defender with vast experience. She is known for her exceptional athleticism, string tackling, and unrelenting dedication to the sport.

Clare's career journey

Clare Polkinghorne's stats
Clare Polkinghorne of the Roar celebrates after her team's victory during the round eight W-League match against the Melbourne Victory at the Gold Coast Sports Centre, on 22 January 2021, in Gold Coast, Australia. Photo: Albert Perez
Source: Getty Images

The defender began playing football at a young age. She joined Brisbane Toro before moving to the Queensland Academy of Sport. Polkinghorne showed great potential and excelled in the youth competitions. The footballer moved to Brisbane Roar in the Australian W-League, the nation's women's top-tier league. She spent 13 years with the club, helping them win multiple titles.

Clare also played for Portland Thorns, Houston Dash, and Avaldsnes IL. She joined her current team, Vittsjö GIK, in 2021.

International career

Clare Polkinghorne's current team
Clare Polkinghorne (4) of Australia battles for a header with Deneisha Blackwood (14) of Jamaica during their Cup of Nations match at McDonald Jones Stadium on 22 February 2023 in Newcastle, Australia. Photo: Cameron Spencer
Source: Getty Images

Polkinghorne debuted for the Australian women's national team in 2006. She was part of the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup squad. She won the 2010 Asian Cup with Australia and later featured in the 2011, 2015, and 2019 World Cups. Clare has been a rock in Australia's backline for over a decade. She is part of the 2023 World Cup squad, representing her nation alongside Sam Kerr, Ellie Carpenter, and Caitlin Foord.

Clare Polkinghorne's stats and achievements

The defender played over 120 games for Brisbane Roar, scoring nearly 17 goals. She is Australia's most-capped player, with 156 appearances as of August 2023. Here is a breakdown of her honours.

  • A-League Women (2010-11)
  • AFC Women's Asian Cup (2010)
  • FFA Cup of Nations (2023, 2019)
  • Tournament of Nations (2017)
  • W-League Premiership (2008-09, 2012-13)
  • W-League Championship (2008-09, 2010-11)
  • Women's National Soccer League (2005)
  • Julie Dolan Medal - The best player in the 2012-13 W-League
  • Julie Dolan Medal - The best player in the 2017-18 W-League (jointly with Sam Kerr)

Clare Polkinghorne's injury update

Clare Polkinghorne's injury
Australia's Clare Polkinghorne reacts in pain on the ground during their 2023 Women's World Cup quarter-final football match against New Zealand at Brisbane Stadium in Brisbane on 12 August 2023. Photo: Patrick Hamilton
Source: Getty Images

The Swedish-based defender has suffered several injury setbacks in her career. She has undergone seven surgeries in five years with four to six months of rehab. Luckily, she is now fit and representing her nation in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.

"I had three surgeries on one knee just to sort one issue, so that took around two years. So I think it was always just like building myself up to complete a rehab, feel really good about it, play a few games, back at square one." Clare said. "And I felt like I just did that seven times in a row, and I never really had consistency. I never felt like I could express myself as a footballer." She added.

Clare Polkinghorne's net worth

The Australian athlete has made millions from her football career. She has an estimated net worth of $1.5 million as of 2023. Her wealth means she is among the wealthiest female Australian footballers.

Is there a Clare Polkinghorne's Instagram account?

The Brisbane native is on social media, where she connects with her fans. Clare's Instagram account has 19.5k followers as of August 2023. She likes posting photos with her teammates. Her Twitter account is unverified, with 6.3k followers.

Clare Polkinghorne's partner, Elyse Nayler, is known for her relationship with the Australian defender. However, details of her background and what she does for a living remain private. The couple often support one another but rarely come out in public.

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Authors
Helix Odhiambo photo
Helix Odhiambo
Helix Odhiambo is an award-winning Kenyan journalist and content creator with over 6 years of experience. In 2016, he won the Goal Blaze Correspondent Award for young writers.