Kyra Cooney-Cross may have been born on the Sunshine Coast, but she realised her potential in Victoria and will soon put the world on notice.
The 21-year-old is a staple in the Matildas midfield and is set to take part in her first FIFA Women's World Cup; starting tonight.
Cooney-Cross has made 25 appearances for the Matildas since making her debut in 2021 and will be a cornerstone of Australia’s midfield for years to come.
The Cooney-Cross family are no strangers to the football community, with Kyra’s dad, Jai, playing football at the semi-professional level in Queensland with the Sunshine Coast Fire. This immersion into the football community from a young age shaped Kyra into the player she has become.
She started her football journey in the same part of the world as her father, playing in the Sunshine Coast Churches Soccer Association for Bli Bli United FC from age five.
Cooney-Cross later joined the FV NTC squad to further her abilities, this was when she started to blossom.
FV Girls Talent Development Manager Annick Fokchak said it was "amazing" what Cooney-Cross has been able to achieve.
" It was always about being a footballer for her. That was her goal, the determination to always want to be better and improve was always visible," she said.
Cooney-Cross has made her name as an attacking midfielder for the Matildas and clubs around the world, however, this wasn't always the case.
"When she first came across into the NTC program in 2015/16 it was as a winger. As she further developed her understanding and awareness of the game she easily transitioned into an attacking midfielder," Fokchak recalled.
"She had the skill level and understanding of how to bring others into the game was evident.
Fokchak explained it was at the 2016 National Youth Championships that the coaching staff knew she was destined for greater pastures.
"She played as a winger and attacking mid-fielder at the tournament, she and Sofia Sakalis formed a great partnership in the midfield which helped Victoria win the championship that year," she said.
"As coaches then, we knew that she would be identified for the Junior Matildas and then into the Young Matildas, and the rest as they say is history. It’s all credit to her hard work and drive to become the player she is now."
"The NTC program only played a small part in that journey."
Fokchak said seeing Cooney-Cross' continual success reinforces the FV player development process is on the right track.
"When I first heard the news of her selection into a Matildas camp, I thought wow how amazing is it that a player was able to be part of the NTC Victorian program as a youth player," she said.
"It’s a proud moment for the program, a massive congratulations to Kyra, we wish her and the Matildas all the best in the tournament."
The midfielder then spent three years at Ballarat City, coached by Tessa Curtain, and was given the opportunity to represent the Junior Matildas at the 2017 AFC U-16 Women's Championship qualifiers, scoring six goals.
Cooney-Cross signed her first professional contract ahead of the 2017-18 W Season with Melbourne Victory. By season's end, she ended up making 12 appearances and scored two goals.
She was called up to the 2019 AFC U19 Women’s Championship qualifiers, scoring six goals to put Australia top of their group. Her hard work was rewarded with the opportunity to travel with the Matildas to France for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup.
She was listed as a standby player and had the chance to train with the senior team. which gave her valuable experience and allowed the Matildas coaches a glimpse at this versatile player.
Ahead of the 2019-20 A-League W season, Cooney-Cross made the move to Western Sydney Wanderers, where she scored on her debut, with a 92nd-minute winning free-kick.
The next year, she returned to Melbourne Victory in her most successful season yet, scoring five goals – including a Championship winning Olimpico in the Grand Final. Her season was topped off by winning the NAB Young Footballer of the Year.
Her blistering form saw Matildas Head Coach Tony Gustavsson call up Cooney-Cross for her international debut on June 10, 2021, against Denmark.
She made so much of an immediate impact off the bench that she made her starting debut against Sweden the following match and played the full 90 minutes in the 0-0 draw.
Since her international debut, the midfielder has made the move to Swedish outfit Hammerby IF, where she has made 12 appearances and scored pred one goal since making the move in 2022.