Talia Younis

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Talia Younis
Personal information
Date of birth (2008-10-26) 26 October 2008 (age 15)
Place of birth Australia
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
Western Sydney Wanderers
Number 19
Youth career
2019– Western Sydney Wanderers
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2023– Western Sydney Wanderers 15 (0)
International career
2023– Australia U17 8 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17 April 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 26 October 2023

Talia Younis (born 26 October 2008) is an Australian soccer player who plays as a midfielder for A-League Women side Western Sydney Wanderers. She is the first player born after 2008 to feature in the A-League.

Raised in Western Sydney, Younis made her first-team debut in October 2022, becoming the youngest debutant in the A-League aged 14 years and 361 days. Her record stood for two weeks before teammate Ischia Brooking made her debut aged 14 years and 347 days old.[1][2]

Club career[edit]

Western Sydney Wanderers[edit]

Younis started playing for Western Sydney Wanderers in 2019, after trailling three times for the Wanderers Academy.[3] She made her A-League Women debut for Wanderers on 22 October 2023 in a 3–0 defeat to Wellington Pheonix at Western Sydney Stadium.[4] Aged 14 years and 361 days, Younis became the youngest debutant in the A-League, breaking Sam Kerr's record who debuted aged 15 years and 45 days.[4][5][6] She also became the first player born after the inauguration of the competition in 2008 to make her maiden appearance.[5][6]

International career[edit]

An Australian youth international, Younis was called up to Australia under-17 squad ahead of the 2024 AFC U-17 Asian Cup qualification.[7][8][9] She scored a goal each in Australia's 11–0 win over Mongolia,[10] and 6–2 victory over Philippines in Hanoi.[11][12]

Personal life[edit]

Raised in Western Sydney, Younis has an older brother, Marcus Younis, who plays for Western Sydney Wanderers in the A-League Men.[13][14] Her father, Ray, was a former National Soccer League player and currently works as the Wanderers' conditioning coach.[13]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Rosengarten, Jake (5 November 2023). "All-time A-Leagues record broken for the second time in 14 DAYS". A-League. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  2. ^ "Late drama sees Wanderers share points with Newcastle". Western Sydney Wanderers. 5 November 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  3. ^ "Wanderers secure rising star Talia Younis". Western Sydney Wanderers. 6 July 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Phoenix see off Wanderers with second-half flurry". Western Sydney Wanderers. 22 October 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  5. ^ a b Sherlock, Harry (22 October 2023). "Chelsea and Australia star Sam Kerr sees long-standing A-League record broken by 14-year-old Talia Younis". Goal. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  6. ^ a b Comito, Matt (22 October 2023). "One of Sam Kerr's long-standing A-Leagues records has just been toppled... by a 14-year-old!". A-League. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  7. ^ "Younis named in CommBank Junior Matildas squad for 2024 AFC U17 Women's Asian Cup Round 1 Qualifiers". Western Sydney Wanderers. 16 April 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  8. ^ "Younis named in CommBank Junior Matildas squad selected for Korea Republic International Series". Western Sydney Wanderers. 31 May 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  9. ^ "Younis named in CommBank Junior Matildas squad for upcoming camp". Western Sydney Wanderers. 25 August 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  10. ^ "Australia kick off #AFCU17W Round 1 Qualifiers with an 11-0 win over Mongolia | Football Australia". Football Australia. 24 April 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  11. ^ "Younis strikes in CommBank Junior Matildas 6-2 victory over the Philippines in their #AFCU17W Round 2 Qualifiers". Western Sydney Wanderers. 21 September 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  12. ^ "CommBank Junior Matildas record a 6-2 victory over the Philippines in their #AFCU17W Round 2 Qualifiers | Football Australia". Football Australia. 21 September 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  13. ^ a b "After breaking Sam Kerr's record, the A-Leagues' youngest-ever player has her eyes on a bright future". ABC News. 25 October 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  14. ^ "Younis' meteoric rise". Western Sydney Wanderers. 17 July 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.