The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

Sam Kerr the best in the world, former Perth Glory great says

(Photo by Zak Kaczmarek/Getty Images)
28th December, 2017
2

Perth Glory great Bobby Despotovski reckons Sam Kerr will be rated the best female player in the world one day, but says Australia needs to play more high-quality internationals for her to be recognised.

Kerr has taken the football world by storm over the past 12 months, winning a swag of individual and team awards on the back of her goalscoring feats.

The 24-year-old’s brilliance helped the Matildas win the Tournament of Nations, and she also set a new goalscoring record in America’s National Women’s Soccer League by scoring 17 goals in 22 games for Sky Blue FC.

But surprisingly – and somewhat controversially – she didn’t even make the top three of the FIFA Best Women’s Player award.

The Netherlands’ Lieke Martens won the prestigious award, with Venezuelan striker Deyna Castellanos and American midfielder Carli Lloyd rounding out the top three.

Despotovski coaches Kerr at W-League side Perth Glory, and says the star striker with the trademark backflip goal celebration is the world’s best player.

But he said for her to be truly recognised, the Matildas need to be able to strut their stuff regularly on the big stage.

“Australia don’t play enough strong international games for her to be voted No.1,” Despotovski said.

Advertisement

“As a nation, we need to give her an opportunity to play in good tournaments with the Matildas for her to achieve that. It’s as simple as that.

“We need to win the Asian Cup, and do something at the Olympics, and then we can expect her to be the No.1.”

Kerr will be back in action on Friday night in the top-of-the-table clash with Brisbane Roar at Perth’s Dorrien Gardens.

Roar sit two points clear of Glory, and the game will pit the competition’s best offence against the league’s best defence.

Glory have scored a league-high 18 goals in seven games, while the Roar have conceded a league-low eight goals.

Kerr scored a hat-trick in last round’s 3-3 draw with Newcastle.

But Kerr isn’t the Roar’s only threat.

Advertisement

When the teams last met in round two at Suncorp Stadium, Rachel Hill scored a hat-trick and Kerr added another as Glory won 4-1.

Kerr leads the W-League golden boot race with eight goals, and Hill is in second spot on seven.

“It’s no secret we build the team around Sam Kerr,” Despotovski said.

“It would be stupid not to do that when we have one of the best footballers in the world.

“The girls bought into the philosophy that we got, and everyone is supporting it.”

close