Australia’s captain and star striker Sam Kerr has suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury during Chelsea’s warm weather training camp in Morocco, the English Women’s Super League club has said.
The injury will almost certainly rule the 30-year-old out of the Paris Olympics should Australia qualify as expected.
The news was described as “devastating” by Matildas manager Tony Gustavsson.
“Considering how hard Sam has worked over the past six months to return to play, this news is a devastating blow for everyone,” Gustavsson said.
“With her ability to lead by example, Sam’s guidance and influence on the team is significant and, as a result, this will be an incredible loss for the national team.
“Our focus now is on ensuring she has all the support she wants and needs to navigate recovery and rehab,” Gustavsson concluded.
Kerr has already been ruled out of the second half of Chelsea’s WSL and European Champions League campaigns, and Australia’s AFC Women’s Olympic Qualifiers Round 3 series against Uzbekistan next month.
The World Cup semi-finalists need only to win that two-leg tie – against a team ranked 47th in the world, 35 places below the Matildas – to qualify for Paris.
The Games soccer tournament takes place from 24 July – 10 August, but it is rare for a player to return from an ACL injury with less than eight months rehabilitation, and it often takes longer.
Kerr is the latest leading women’s player to suffer the injury, which seems more prevalent in the women’s game and is belatedly the subject of research into why this is.
Ellie Carpenter, Kyah Simon, Chloe Logarzo and Elise Kellond-Knight are among Australian players to have suffered ACL injuries in recent years.
England’s Beth Mead and Leah Williamson, Vivianne Miedema of the Netherlands and France’s Marie-Antoinette Katoto were among a string of stars to miss the World Cup while Spain’s Alexia Putellas had only just returned to playing and is still to regain her former level.
Kerr, runner-up to Spain’s Aitana Bonmati at the Ballon d’Or awards last year, is Australia’s record goalscorer with 69 in 128 matches.
Chelsea said she “will be assessed by a specialist in the coming days and then begin her rehabilitation with the club’s medical team”.
Kerr has scored 99 goals in 128 games for the club, winning the WSL Golden Boot twice, four league titles and three FA Cups – scoring in each final, but is out of contract this summer.
She was recently joined in London by her partner, American player Kristie Mewis, who joined WSL rivals West Ham United.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
My brain broke and prevented me from becoming human
Buddy
Roar Rookie
NM - you should bottle and sell your brand of footballing pessimism. you could make a fortune????
Buddy
Roar Rookie
Chris, agreed. I was thinking more about the treatment and facilities that she will have access to at Chelsea and London generally. Let’s face it, the Matildas don’t even have a training ground here :unhappy:
chris1
Roar Rookie
It's still going to be 9-12 months recovery regardless of how good her treatment and rehab is.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
I was slightly amused by Tg’s comments re recovery for SK. Unless women are totally second class citizens at Chelsea (they aren’t) she will most likely receive excellent medical treatment and recovery assistance from her club who have access to all the specialists imaginable and latest treatments and equipments…..advantage of playing in Europe in the top tier of football.
NoMates
Roar Rookie
There's no way they beat Uzbekistan now, let alone qlfy for Paris. This will be start of the end of here out. 3-0 Uzbeks
jameswm
Roar Guru
Is this an injury that requires a full reconstruction? Those sports where you change direction are tough. Wishing her well for rehab.
Grem
Roar Rookie
I hope Gustavson makes her the “Vibes Manager” if we make it. It would be good to take her if it doesn’t interfere with her recovery.
jimmy jones
Roar Rookie
Mary is the true star
jimmy jones
Roar Rookie
huge relief its not the true superstar Mary
AGO74
Roar Rookie
Terrible news. What a wretched six months for Sammy. The only positive is that we (assuming we can get past Uzbeks) have six months to learn to play without Sammy for Olympics. At the World Cup we did pretty well with 24 hours notice after Sam tore her calf. But let’s not mess about Sam Kerr is the difference between a very good team and a world class team. Separately- injuries are part and parcel of game just wondering if there’s anything that can be done to slow down the plague of ACL injuries in women’s football?
mrl
Roar Rookie
It is both amazing and distressing how a small piece of human celled elastic can cause such devastation. Go the Matildas!!!
Grem
Roar Rookie
Is Heyman like Bruno? Give her a chance and see what happens. I wouldn’t have Ford at striker, but without Sam – Ford and Raso we’re the dynamic duo in the front line. And with Fowler blossoming behind and with them, they were doing very well.
NickA
Roar Rookie
Watching Heyman here in Canberra, she’s still got it but I don’t think she’s at the Matildas’ level anymore. Foord should be nowhere near the #9 position – keep her on the wing. Hoping one of the younger players can start stepping up and scoring goals too
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
This is a disaster, Kerr is always good against lesser teams parking the bus which is what Uzbekistan will do I presume. There needs to be a red alert issued for Galic in the A-league w she just scored a hat trick. Already we see the top scorer from Canberra Milojevic was nabbed by Serbia. Balkan countires womens sides are awful and like a lot of other teams recruiting from overseas, Gustavsson needs to cap players . I dont know which Balkan countries Galic is eligible for the one thing is certain, they will all be contacting her if they have not already while Gustavsson the goose twiddles his thumbs.
Grem
Roar Rookie
Kayah Simon has yet to return and may be a possibility. A comeback from Michelle Heyman? While the form of Raso and Ford at the World Cup also shows how they can step up without Sam.
NickA
Roar Rookie
Dare I say, Princess Mary --> to Queen Mary? :silly: In all seriousness though, we will need to work out who will play in that 9 role - I am not sure that is Fowler's best position but there doesn't seem a clear option otherwise. Hopefully Kerr can be back stronger than ever
Grem
Roar Rookie
And add in the talent of Raso and Ford - they were amazing in Sam’s absence at the World Cup. Let’s not forget - the skill and captaincy of Catley, the class and determination of Cooney Cross and Gorry in midfield, the defence of Hint and Kennedy and the keeping of Arnold. We also need to remember all the new WSL players we have - they are a great TEAM.
chris1
Roar Rookie
Terrible news. I guess the up side is that she will get ample time to recover from her niggly soft tissue problems.
Grem
Roar Rookie
As Cameron wrote - this is now time for Mary Fowler to become our megastar player. She can score goals as well as set them up. It is a shame to lose Sam, especially after her World Cup injury. For our Matildas, it’s the equivalent of Argentina losing Messi - irreplaceable, but you have to try. Unfortunately, injuries happen in sport and we’ll see her again after the Olympics.