Holly McNamara


Holly Christina McNamara is an Australian soccer player who is a forward for Melbourne [City FC (A-League Women)|Melbourne City] in the A-League Women and the Australia women's national soccer team.

Early and personal life

McNamara was born in 2003 in Sydney, New South Wales. She played as a junior for Ermington United in the Granville & Districts Soccer Football Association. During 2016 she played for Blacktown Spartans under-13 alongside future national teammates, Bryleeh Henry and Jessika Nash.

Club career

From 2017 to 2021 McNamara played for Football NSW Institute in the National Premier Leagues NSW Women's. During 2018 she ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament for the first time. Her subsequent recovery was followed by the cancellation of remainder of NPL NSW Women's 2021 matches after August due to COVID-19 restrictions.
In December 2021, McNamara made her A-League Women debut for Melbourne City in a 1–0 win over Canberra United, playing the full 90 minutes and scoring the game's only goal. In February 2022, McNamara had another ruptured ACL, in a match against Sydney FC, which shortened her debut 2021–22 [Melbourne City FC (women) season|season] to eight appearances and four goals provided. Her team finished runners-up to the Premiers, Sydney and lost the Preliminary Final 1–3 against cross-town rivals, Melbourne Victory FC. Despite her abbreviated season McNamara was awarded A-League Women Young Footballer of the Year at the Dolan Warren Awards in May 2022. During the 2022 A-League off-season she joined APIA Leichhardt in the NPL NSW Women. She returned from injury in March 2023, during City's Melbourne City FC (women) season|2022–23 season], and appeared six times for one goal. Once again she played for APIA Leichhardt during A-League 2023 off-season.
During the 2023–24 season for Melbourne City, McNamara only played five matches kicking six goals, before she acquired her third ACL injury. This occurred on 19 November 2023, during her match against Newcastle Jets, where she had scored two goals. Melbourne City continued the season to become Premiers, and runners-up to Champions, Sydney, in the grand final in May 2024. McNamara returned to the squad in the 2024–25 season where she scored 15 goals in 17 appearances. Her tally included two hat-tricks: the first was against Western United on 4 February 2025, and the second against Adelaide United on 16 March. As the league's leading goalscorer for the season she was awarded the Golden Boot.
Melbourne City were Premiers again, but were eliminated in the two-leg semifinals against Central Coast Mariners, who were eventual Champions. As Premiers Melbourne City qualified for the inaugural AFC Women's Champions League joining at the 2024-25 group stage in Group B. After winning all three group matches they advanced to quarter-finals where they won 3–0 against Taichung Blue Whale with McNamara scoring the third goal from the penalty spot. In the final they finished runners-up by losing a penalty shoot-out 4–5 against Wuhan Jiangda after extra time being drawn 1–1.

International career

In June-July 2018, McNamara represented Australia women's national under-20 soccer team at the AFF Women's Championship, held in Indonesia. They competed against senior ASEAN teams. She debuted as a defender in their 9–0 defeat of Timor-Leste and kicked her first goal for the team in a 12–0 victory against Cambodia. The Young Matildas reached the final, but lost 2–3 against Thailand. In August of that year she joined the Australia women's national under-17 soccer team training camp ahead of their 2019 AFC U-16 Women's Championship qualification campaign, however she tore her ACL during a practice match before making her debut.
After an impactful early five games for Melbourne City FC, McNamara was called up for the Australia women's national soccer team for the first time. She participated in a training camp ahead of the 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup, and on 17 January 2022, McNamara was selected for the tournament squad along with Cortnee Vine. She debuted for Australia in their opening match, an 18–0 defeat of Indonesia. The Matildas were eliminated in the quarterfinal's 0–1 loss against South Korea.
McNamara was recalled to the Matildas squad in April 2023 ahead of two friendlies against Scotland and England, in London. However, she was "medically withdrawn" and returned to Australia before the first match. She was named to the Matildas squad on 18 November 2023 for two international friendly matches against Canada. Days before she was set to link up with the squad, McNamara ruptured her ACL for the third time.
On 4 February 2025, McNamara was named in the Matildas squad for the SheBelieves Cup in United States. After 1,119 days, McNamara made her return to the Matildas against Japan, coming on as a substitute in the 64th minute. She scored her first international goal for the Matildas against Slovenia in Perth on 26 June 2025.

Honours

Regional
Club
Club International
Individual