Charlotte McLean

Charlotte McLean

McLean with the North Carolina Courage in 2024
Personal information
Date of birth	(2000-03-01) March 1, 2000 (age 24)
Place of birth	Sydney, Australia
Height	1.69 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s)	Centre-back / right-back
Team information
Current team	North Carolina Courage
Number	25
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2020–2024	Sydney FC	74	(1)
2024–	North Carolina Courage	1	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 5 May 2024

Charlotte McLean (born 1 March 2000) is an Australian professional footballer who plays as a defender for the North Carolina Courage of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). She previously played for A-League Women side Sydney FC.

Early life

McLean was born in the Sydney suburb of Epping.[1] She attended Cheltenham Girls High School where she won the state high school knockout championship and was named player of the final in 2016.[2] She played for Sydney University in the National Premier Leagues Women's where she won the Challenge Cup championship in 2019.[1]

Career

Sydney FC, 2020–2024

McLean signed with Sydney FC after playing against the club in practice with Sydney Olympic FC of the NPL NSW.[3] She debuted in the starting lineup against Western Sydney Wanderers FC on 30 December 2020.[4] She contributed to Sydney FC recording the league's best defence and winning consecutive premierships in 2020–21 and 2021–22.[3] She did not miss a minute for the club until 5 March 2023 when she fractured her cheekbone in a collision with a teammate in the closing minutes against Western United.[5][6] She returned to the pitch the next month on 16 April.[7]

McLean contributed to Sydney FC winning their third consecutive premiership in 2022–23 and two consecutive grand finals in 2023 and 2024.[8][9] She was honoured on the A-League Women Team of the Season in 2022–23 and 2023–24, with the club also recognising her as their Player of the Year in the latter season.[9][10] Sydney FC announced her departure on 14 June 2024, with McLean and Cortnee Vine set to move to the United States to play in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).[9]

North Carolina Courage, 2024–

The North Carolina Courage announced their signing of McLean on a two-year contract on 17 June 2024, with her becoming eligible to play at the start of the transfer window on 1 August.[11] She made her club debut on 6 August as a stoppage-time substitute in defeat to the Kansas City Current in the Summer Cup semifinals.[12]

Personal life

Since 2019, McLean has dated Australian national team player Cortnee Vine, her teammate at Sydney FC and the North Carolina Courage.[13][14]

References

1. Walker, Jeremy (20 November 2022). "Sunday Story: Charlotte Mclean". Sydney FC. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
2. Besley, John (8 September 2016). "Cheltenham Girls and Epping Boys claim Puma competition double". Northern District Times. Retrieved 14 June 2024 – via news.com.au.
3. Clarke, George (1 December 2022). "Sydney's McLean keen to continue ALW rise". Australian Associated Press. Retrieved 14 June 2024 – via The Canberra Times.
4. "Charlotte Mclean 2020–2021 Match Logs". FBref.com.
5. "'It sounds like bubble wrap popping' – Charlotte Mclean". Sydney FC. 23 March 2023.
6. Brissenden, Neve (10 March 2023). "Broken bones, concussions and a suspension decimate Sydney FC". FTBL. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
7. "Charlotte Mclean 2022–2023 Match Logs". FBref.com.
8. Grainey, Tim (6 May 2023). "A-League Women: Sydney FC wins regular season, championship". The Equalizer. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
9. Dodd, James (14 June 2024). "Iconic Sydney FC duo Cortnee Vine and Charlotte McLean depart Sky Blues for NWSL: Full details". A-League Women. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
10. "Austraffic A-League Women's Team of the Season: Sky Blue theme to player-voted team". Professional Footballers Australia. 26 April 2023.
    "PFA reveals player-voted 2023-24 A-League Women's Team of the Season". Professional Footballers Australia. 2 May 2024.
11. "Courage signs Australian defender Charlotte McLean". North Carolina Courage. 17 June 2024. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
12. "Recap: Courage fall in Summer Cup semifinal Tuesday". North Carolina Courage. 6 August 2024. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
13. "Inside The Matildas Star Players' Lives Off The Pitch". Marie Claire. 17 January 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
14. Mills, Lauren (29 January 2024). "Inside Matildas star Cortnee Vine's 5-year relationship". New Idea. Retrieved 17 June 2024.

External links

• Charlotte McLean at Soccerway