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Abby Erceg

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Abby Erceg
Erceg withRacing Louisville FCin 2024
Personal information
Full name Abby May Erceg[1]
Date of birth (1989-11-20)20 November 1989(age 34)[1]
Place of birth Whangārei,New Zealand[2]
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Racing Louisville
Number 20
Youth career
0000–2004 Three Kings United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2006 Three Kings United 36 (17)
2007–2008 Western Springs FC 22 (12)
2009 Three Kings United 23 (15)
2009–2010 Espanyol 0 (0)
2010 Fencibles United 25 (14)
2011–2013 Adelaide United 22 (0)
2013–2014 FF USV Jena 30 (5)
2014–2015 Chicago Red Stars 26 (0)
2016 Western New York Flash 19 (2)
2017–2022 North Carolina Courage 73 (4)
2023- Racing Louisville 34 (2)
International career‡
2007–2009 New Zealand U-20 24 (13)
2006–2023 New Zealand 146[3] (6)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17 Juen 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 27 July 2021

Abby May Erceg(born 20 November 1989) is a New Zealand professionalfootballerwho plays as adefenderforRacing Louisville FCin theNational Women's Soccer League(NWSL). She formerly played for theNew Zealand national team,where she became the first player (male or female) from New Zealand to play 100 international matches. She has previously played for German clubJena,theChicago Red Stars,and theWestern New York Flash/North Carolina Courage,with which she won threeNWSL Championships.

Early life[edit]

Erceg attendedMount Roskill Grammar School.[4]

Club career[edit]

Erceg signed with German sideJenain 2013. She was loaned to theChicago Red Stars,an NWSL club, and played there for two months during the Bundesliga's 2014 summer break.[5]After she returned and played the first half of the 2014–15 Bundesliga season, she and the Jena club ended her contract during the winter break.[6]

Erceg then signed with the Chicago Red Stars in May 2014.[7]

In November 2015, the Red Stars traded her to theWestern New York Flash.[8]

In 2016, she captained the Western New York Flash to aNWSL League Championship.

Erceg became part of theNorth Carolina Couragein 2017 after theWestern New York Flashwere sold to the owners of North Carolina FC. She would remain captain as the Courage won the 2017NWSL Shieldand appeared in the 2017 NWSL Final where they lost 1–0 to the Portland Thorns.[9]Erceg was named to theNWSL Second XIfor the 2017 season.[10]

Erceg was named the NWSL Team of the Month for May, June, July & August in the 2018 season.[11]She helped the Courage to win their second straight NWSL shield. North Carolina broke the record for fewest goals conceded during a season, and only suffered 1 loss.[12]The North Carolina Courage won the 2018 NWSL Championship after beating the Portland Thorns 3–0. They didn't concede a goal in either of their play-off games. Erceg was named to the2018 NWSL Best XI,and was named 2018 NWSL Defender of the Year.[13]

Erceg was again named in theNWSL Second XIfor 2019 as the Courage won the NWSL Shield and Championship again.

In January 2023, the Courage traded Erceg, along withCarson Pickett,toRacing Louisville FCin exchange forEmily Fox.[14]

International career[edit]

Abby Erceg at the2015 FIFA Women's World Cup

Erceg made her fullFootball Fernsdébut in a 0–3 loss toChinaon 14 November 2006, and represented New Zealand at the2007 FIFA Women's World Cupfinals in China,[15]where they lost toBrazil0–5,Denmark(0–2) and China (0–2).

Erceg was also included in the New Zealand squad for the2008 Summer Olympicswhere they drew withJapan(2–2) before losing toNorway(0–1) andUSA(0–4).[16]Inthe following tournament,Erceg helped New Zealand reach the quarterfinals, the Ferns' first ever knockout game in a FIFA tournament.[17]There they lost 2–0 to the United States.

She was included in the U-20 squad for the2008 Women's U-20 World Cupfinals in Chile.[18] Erceg earned her 50th cap for New Zealand aged just 21 when starting New Zealand's2011 Cyprus Cupopening match against theNetherlandson 2 March 2011 and becoming the third most capped female player in New Zealand Football history with 62 caps to her name. Erceg was also a part of the team that qualified for theWomen's Football World Cupthat took place in Germany, in 2011 where they finished 12th overall.

Erceg's experience led her to be namedcaptainof the Football Ferns in 2014.[7]In the first game of the2014 OFC Women's Nations Cup,she became the first player from New Zealand to reach 100 international caps.[19]

She featured in all New Zealand's three matches at the2015 FIFA Women's World Cupin Canada.[20]Erceg was named for the 2016 Olympics squad, which will be her sixth international tournament representing New Zealand.[21]

In February 2017, Erceg announced her retirement from the international game on social media, writing "Due to the unfortunate and unfavourable circumstances within the organisation that is NZF, it is with regret and great sadness that today is the day that I announce my retirement from the international game. Without being able to justify my involvement any longer I will be stepping back in the hopes to create change for the current and future generations of NZ footballers."[22][23]

In February 2018, Erceg came out of retirement to play for New Zealand in their two friendlies againstScotlandin Spain.[24]She then retired again for the second time in May 2018 before New Zealand's friendly againstJapan.[25]

In January 2019, Erceg came back out of international retirement ahead of the2019 Cup of Nationsand the2019 FIFA Women's World Cup.[26]

In April 2019, Erceg was named to the final 23-player squad for the2019 FIFA Women's World Cup.[27]

In June 2021, Erceg was named to the roster for the2020 Summer Olympics.[28]

In January 2023, Erceg again retired from the national team.[29]

International goals[edit]

No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref
1. 9 April 2007 Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium,Lae,Papua New Guinea Tonga 3–0 6–1 2007 OFC Women's Championship [30]
2. 29 September 2010 North Harbour Stadium,Auckland,New Zealand Vanuatu 7–0 14–0 2010 OFC Women's Championship [31]
3. 1 October 2010 Cook Islands 8–0 10–0 [32]
4. 29 October 2014 Kalabond Oval,Kokopo,Papua New Guinea Cook Islands 2–0 11–0 2014 OFC Women's Nations Cup [33]
5. 23 January 2016 PNGFA Academy, Lae, Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea 6–0 7–1 2016 OFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament [34]

Personal life[edit]

Erceg is ofCroatian-Māoridescent,[35]and affiliates to theNgāpuhiiwi.[36]

Erceg is in a relationship withRacing Louisville FCteammateCarson Pickett.

Honours[edit]

Western New York Flash

North Carolina Courage

Individual

References[edit]

  1. ^abc"List of Players – 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup"(PDF).Fédération Internationale de Football Association.Retrieved20 June2015.
  2. ^"NZ Football – HOME".www.nzfootball.co.nz.Archived fromthe originalon 21 June 2015.Retrieved21 June2015.
  3. ^"Women's Olympic Football Tournament Tokyo 2020"(PDF).FIFA.p. 9. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 22 July 2021.Retrieved22 July2021.
  4. ^"Weekly Newsletter"(PDF).Mount Roskill Grammar School.February 2019.
  5. ^Juchem, Markus (7 May 2014)."Jena leiht Abby Erceg nach Chicago aus".www.womensoccer.de(in German). Archived fromthe originalon 19 June 2014.Retrieved28 March2021.
  6. ^Juchem, Markus (17 December 2014)."Abby Erceg verlässt FF USV Jena".www.womensoccer.de(in German). Archived fromthe originalon 1 July 2017.Retrieved28 March2021.
  7. ^ab"Red Stars Sign New Zealand Defender Abby Erceg".5 May 2014. Archived fromthe originalon 18 November 2015.Retrieved18 November2015.
  8. ^"Red Stars Acquire Engen & 4th Round Pick in 2017 College Draft".Chicago Red Stars. 10 November 2015. Archived fromthe originalon 17 November 2015.Retrieved18 November2015.the team has acquired U.S. Women's National Team defender Whitney Engen and a fourth-round pick in the 2017 National Women's Soccer League College Draft from Western New York Flash. In exchange, Western New York received Abby Erceg, Adriana Leon and a first-round (No. 9 overall) selection in the 2016 NWSL College Draft
  9. ^"Western New York Flash sold, will move to North Carolina".6 January 2017.Retrieved13 July2018.
  10. ^"Catley And Morgan Named to 2017 NWSL Second XI Honors".12 October 2017.Retrieved13 July2018.
  11. ^"Five Teams Represented in the NWSL Team of the Month for June".7 June 2018.Retrieved13 July2018.
  12. ^"NC COURAGE BREAK MULTIPLE NWSL RECORDS IN 5–0 WIN OVER HOUSTON DASH".8 September 2018. Archived fromthe originalon 11 September 2018.Retrieved11 September2018.
  13. ^"Defender of the Year: Abby Erceg, North Carolina Courage".27 September 2018.Retrieved27 September2018.
  14. ^"Courage acquire Emily Fox from Racing in trade for Carson Pickett, Abby Erceg".24 January 2023.
  15. ^"New Zealand Squad List, 2007 Women's World Cup".FIFA. Archived fromthe originalon 13 July 2008.Retrieved22 September2008.
  16. ^"Olympic Football Squads Named".New Zealand Olympic Committee. 4 July 2008. Archived fromthe originalon 5 July 2008.Retrieved4 July2008.
  17. ^"NZ Football – HOME".www.nzfootball.co.nz.Archived fromthe originalon 6 October 2015.Retrieved11 July2016.
  18. ^"New Zealand (NZL)".FIFA. Archived fromthe originalon 25 October 2008.Retrieved1 November2008.
  19. ^"Football Ferns captain earns her 100th cap".stuff.co.nz. 25 October 2014.Retrieved25 October2014.
  20. ^"FIFA player's stats".FIFA.Archived fromthe originalon 24 October 2012.Retrieved28 June2015.
  21. ^FIFA.com (10 June 2016)."Kiwi captain Erceg leading from the front".Archived fromthe originalon 12 June 2016.
  22. ^Lee, Allison (20 February 2017)."Abby Erceg retires from international competition – Equalizer Soccer".
  23. ^"Football Ferns Captain Abby Erceg Retires Due to Lack of Support From NZ Football".20 February 2017.
  24. ^"Football Ferns – Big names come back for Scotland".New Zealand Football.Archived fromthe originalon 23 February 2018.Retrieved17 May2018.
  25. ^"Football: Abby Erceg retires again ahead of Football Ferns' clash with Japan".Newshub.Retrieved17 May2018.
  26. ^"Football Ferns veteran Abby Erceg comes out of retirement again ahead of World Cup".Stuff.15 January 2019.
  27. ^"Football Ferns squad revealed for World Cup".The New Zealand Herald.
  28. ^"ABBY ERCEG TO REPRESENT NEW ZEALAND IN 2020 TOKYO OLYMPICS".24 June 2021.
  29. ^"ABBY ERCEG RETIRES FROM NEW ZEALAND".
  30. ^"OFC - Kiwis trounce Tonga in World Cup opener".Oceania Football Confederation.9 April 2007.Retrieved30 March2022.
  31. ^"New Zealand 14–0 Vanuatu".Oceania Football Confederation.29 September 2010.Retrieved30 March2022.
  32. ^"Cook Islands 0–10 New Zealand".Oceania Football Confederation.1 October 2010.Retrieved30 March2022.
  33. ^"Cook Islands 0-11 New Zealand".Oceania Football Confederation.Archived fromthe originalon 29 October 2014.Retrieved30 March2022.
  34. ^"PNG 1-7 NZL".Oceania Football Confederation.Archived fromthe originalon 29 January 2016.Retrieved30 March2022.
  35. ^Gol.hr,Meet footballer of Croatian-Maori descentpublished 12 December 2013, access date 16 June 2017
  36. ^"43 Māori athletes to head to Rio Olympics".Te Karere.5 August 2016.Retrieved6 August2016.
  37. ^"IFFHS WOMAN TEAM – OFC – OF THE DECADE 2011–2020".IFFHS.31 January 2021.

External links[edit]

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