| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Michaela Leigh Foster | ||
| Date of birth | 9 January 1999 | ||
| Place of birth | Hamilton, New Zealand [1] | ||
| Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) [2] | ||
| Position(s) | Left Back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Wellington Phoenix | ||
| Number | 21 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Claudelands Rovers | |||
| Hamilton Wanderers | |||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2018–2021 | San Diego Toreros | 44 | (6) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022 | Northern Rovers | ||
| 2022– | Wellington Phoenix FC | 18 | (1) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2016 | New Zealand U17 | 10 | (2) |
| 2017–2018 | New Zealand U20 | 5 | (3) |
| 2023– | New Zealand | 13 | (1) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 1 April 2023 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 13 February 2024 | |||
Michaela Leigh Foster is a New Zealand footballer who plays for Wellington Phoenix in the A-League Women and the New Zealand national team. [3] [4] [5]
Michaela Leigh Foster is the daughter of Ian Foster, a former rugby union player who coaches the All Blacks. In November 2022, she got engaged to her girlfriend. [6] She attended Hamilton Girls' High School, later working in its sports department while a National League player. [7]
Foster played college soccer at the University of San Diego in California for four years and, upon her return to New Zealand, worked different jobs while playing for Northern Rovers in the National League. [7]
Though a recognised youth international, she did not play for a top-flight football team until she was 24, [7] when she joined Wellington Phoenix in October 2022 ahead of the A-League Women season. [6] She had been offered a scholarship position on the squad, with a lower wage; with good performances despite the team's poor results, and having played every minute for the team, she was given a full contract after four matches. Foster is considered the set-piece specialist of the team. [7]
As a youth international, Foster captained New Zealand's under-17 and under-20 teams at their respective youth World Cups in 2016 and 2018. The under-17 coach said that while it can be hard to identify leaders in the youth levels, Foster stood out for her mana . [6]
After her successful debut season in the A-League, Foster was called up to the senior New Zealand national team in February 2023, [7] making her debut on 20 February 2023 in a friendly against Argentina. [1] [8] She had originally been included only as a training player unavailable for selection, but with injury to Rebekah Stott was added to the squad. [7] On 30 June 2023, Foster was called up to the New Zealand squad for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. [9]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 2023 | 10 | 0 |
| 2023 | 3 | 1 | |
| Total | 13 | 1 | |
| No. | Cap | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 12 | 10 February 2024 | FFS Football Stadium, Apia, Samoa |  Samoa | 6–0 | 6–0 | 2024 OFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament |
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