Sonia O'Neill

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is O'Neill and the second or maternal family name is Caroli.
Sonia O'Neill
Personal information
Full name Sonia María O'Neill Caroli
Date of birth (1994-08-19) 19 August 1994 (age 30)
Place of birth Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Height 1.71 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Calgary Wild FC
Youth career
North York Hearts-Azzurri
Master's FA
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2013 Niagara Purple Eagles 31 (0)
2014–2016 North Florida Ospreys 29 (0)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017 Husqvarna FF 4 (2)
2018 Roma CF 8 (2)
2018–2019 Pink Bari 21 (0)
2019 Split 1 (0)
2019 Fleury 0 (0)
2020–2021 Rangers 13 (2)
2021–2022 Split 15 (5)
2022–2023 Turbine Potsdam 0 (0)
2022–2023 Turbine Potsdam II 6 (0)
2023–2024 London City Lionesses 2 (0)
2025– Calgary Wild FC 0 (0)
International career‡
2021– Venezuela 13 (0)
Medal record
Women's football
Representing  Venezuela
Central American and Caribbean Games
Silver medal – second place 2023 San Salvador
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21 May 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 1 July 2023

Sonia María O'Neill Caroli (born 19 August 1994) is a footballer who plays as a midfielder for Calgary Wild FC in the Northern Super League and the Venezuela women's national team. Born in Canada, she represents Venezuela at international level.

Early life

O'Neill played youth soccer with North York Hearts-Azzurri and Master's FA.[1]

College career

In 2012, O'Neill began attending Niagara University, where she played for the women's soccer team.[2] During her first season, she tore the cruciate ligaments in her knee.[3]

In 2014, she moved to the University of North Florida to join their women's soccer team. She did not play in 2014 due to a season-ending knee injury.[4] In 2015, she was named to the Atlantic Sun Conference Academic Honour Roll.[4]

Club career

In May 2017, O'Neill joined Swedish Elitettan club Husqvarna FF, scoring two goals in her first match.[5] After two months, she had to return to Canada due to visa issues.[6]

In February 2018, she moved to Roma CF to play in the Italian Serie B.[1]

In September 2018, she signed with Pink Bari in the Serie A.[7]

In August 2019, she briefly played with Croatian club ŽNK Split at the 2019–20 UEFA Women's Champions League.[8]

In September 2019, O'Neill signed with French Division 1 Féminine club Fleury.[9]

In January 2020, she joined Scottish Women's Premier League club Rangers.[10][11]

In 2021, she returned to play for Split again.[12]

In September 2022, she joined German club Turbine Potsdam.[13]

In July 2023, she announced she was taking a step away from the game for a period for her mental health due to the toxic nature of women's football.[14]

In August 2023, she signed with English club London City Lionesses in the second tier Women's Championship.[15] In December 2023, she took another break from the game due to her pregnancy, missing the remainder of the season.[16][17]

In December 2024, O'Neill joined Calgary Wild ahead of the inaugural Northern Super League season.[18]

International career

O'Neill was eligible to represent for Canada, Venezuela, or Italy at international level.[19]

In late October 2019, she was called up to the Venezuelan national team for the first time.[20] She made her debut on 8 April 2021 in a friendly against Argentina.[21]

References

  1. ^ a b "Mercato: Arriva alla Roma la canadese Sonia Maria O'Neill" [Market: Canadian Sonia Maria O'Neill arrives at Roma]. Roma CF (in Italian). 14 February 2018. Archived from the original on 30 October 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  2. ^ "Sonia O'Neill Niagara profile". Niagara Purple Eagles.
  3. ^ Ramírez, Manuel Alejandro (15 February 2020). "Sonia O'Neill, la futbolista canadiense que ahora juega en la Vinotinto" [Sonia O'Neill, the Canadian soccer player who now plays for the Vinotinto]. El Diario (in Spanish).
  4. ^ a b "Sonia O'Neill North Florida profile". North Florida Ospreys.
  5. ^ Sjölin, Emma (22 May 2017). "Välkommen Sonia!" [Welcome Sonia!]. Husqvarna FF (in Swedish).
  6. ^ Smith, Louis (15 March 2020). "Sonia O'Neil On A Renewed Passion For Football Thanks To Venezuela & Rangers". World Football Index.
  7. ^ Ventrella, Mariano (September 2018). "Pink Bari, nuovo innesto a centrocampo, arriva la canadese Sonia Maria O'Neill" [Pink Bari, new addition to the midfield, the arrival of Canadian Sonia Maria O'Neill]. Calcio in Rosa (in Italian).
  8. ^ Škorić, Edmir (17 May 2023). "Nogometašici Soniji su dali nadimak "Kim Kardashian" - ona voli ćevape, Split i obične tipove" [Soccer player Sonia was nicknamed "Kim Kardashian" - she loves kebabs, Split and regular guys]. SportSport (in Croatian).
  9. ^ "D1F. Sonia O'Neill signe à Fleury !" [D1F. Sonia O'Neill signs for Fleury!]. FC Fleury 91 (in French).
  10. ^ Shaw, Louise (9 January 2020). "Sonia O'Neill Joins Rangers". Rangers FC.
  11. ^ "Rangers sign Chelsea Cornet and Sonia O'Neill". BBC Sport. 8 January 2020.
  12. ^ "U Splitu igra "Kim Kardashian južnoameričkog nogometa": "Splićani su prosječni"" [The "Kim Kardashian of South American football" plays in Split: "Split residents are average"]. Index (in Croatian). 26 April 2022.
  13. ^ Schmidt, Stephan (4 September 2022). "Sonia O'Neill wechselt zum 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam" [Sonia O'Neill moves to 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam]. 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam (in German).
  14. ^ Robson, David (11 July 2023). "'WORTHLESS NUMBER' Ex-Rangers star takes break from game and blasts toxic culture of women's football". The Scottish Sun.
  15. ^ "Venezuela international Sonia O'Neill inks one-year deal with London City Lionesses". London City Lionesses. 13 August 2023.
  16. ^ Vulas, Frane (16 December 2023). "Jedna od najljepših nogometašica, 'lavica' koja je igrala i u Splitu, objavila cijelom svijetu radosnu vijest" [One of the most beautiful female footballers, the 'lioness' who also played in Split, announced the good news to the whole world]. Slobodna Dalmacija (in Croatian).
  17. ^ "London City Lionesses and Venezuela midfielder Sonia O'Neill announces pregnancy". London City Lionesses. 15 December 2023.
  18. ^ "Calgary Wild FC Lock Up Toronto-Based Midfielder Sonia O'Neill". Calgary Wild FC. 20 December 2024.
  19. ^ Hernández, Nestor (12 April 2021). "Sonia O'Neill robó la atención en Manaos, luego de jugar con la Selección de Venezuela" [Sonia O'Neill stole the spotlight in Manaus, after playing with the Venezuela National Team]. Debate (in Spanish).
  20. ^ "Kareylen Capdevilla y Sonia O'Neall ingresan en la convocatoria de la Vinotinto Absoluta" [Kareylen Capdevilla and Sonia O'Neall join the Vinotinto Absolute squad]. Venezuelan Football Federation (in Spanish). 29 October 2019. Archived from the original on 30 October 2019.
  21. ^ Hernández, Nestor (15 May 2023). "¿Quién es Sonia O'Neill, jugadora de Venezuela que encandila con su bellísima figura?" [Who is Sonia O'Neill, a player from Venezuela who dazzles with her beautiful figure?]. Debate (in Spanish).