There are Filipinas all over the world, and now more than ever, this statement rings true in the world of football.
The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup was more than just another international football tournament. On top of this, the level of competition at the World Cup was a sign of how global the game has become, especially in the women’s scene. Given how women’s football has rapidly grown over the last few years, opportunities are continuously popping up for players to compete all over the world for international clubs, and the Filipinas are taking advantage of the doors opening for them.
These are some of the Filipinas who are currently competing for international football clubs, gaining professional experience, and growing their own game.
Australia
Jaclyn Sawicki – Not only does Jaclyn Sawicki compete in the A-League Women — the top division of women’s football in the country — representing Western United FC, but she is also the current captain of the Australian squad. In the 2023 A-League Women Championship, the team was runners-up in their campaign.
Sarina Bolden – It’s no secret that Sarina Bolden is one of the Filipinas’ top goalscorers — we’re still not over her historic World Cup goal. Her skill has never failed to shine through, and in December last year, the striker signed for the Western Sydney Wanderers FC after competing for the Japanese team, Chifure AS Elfen Saitama.
Anicka Castañeda – Anicka Castañeda is among the homegrown Filipinas players, and her journey growing up with Philippine football has led her to Mount Druitt Town Rangers, a football club in Western Sydney, Australia that currently competes in the country’s FNSW Women’s League 1.
Malea Cesar – At only 18 years old, Malea Cesar is one of the rising stars on the Filipinas squad, and there is no doubt that competing for Blacktown City Football Club, a semi-professional club that competes in the National Premier Leagues NSW, she is only becoming a more seasoned player.
Jessika Cowart – Jessika Cowart is one of the newest Filipinas members who will be competing in Australia for Perth Glory in the Liberty A-League for the 2023-2024 season. Prior to this recent signing, Cowart was competing for another international club, IFK Kalmar in Sweden.
Sweden
Katrina Guillou – At 29 years old, Katrina Guillou is one of the most internationally experienced players among the Filipinas, as she has been competing for international clubs since 2016. She currently plays for Piteå Idrottsförening, a Swedish club that currently competes in Sweden’s top-division women’s league, Damallsvenskan.
Jessica Miclat – Jessica Miclat currently competes for Eskilstuna United DFF in the Women’s Premier Division in Sweden, but, this is not her first professional club. She previously competed in the Danish top division for AaB Fodbold and in the Cypriot First Division for Aris Limassol.
Angela Beard – Although she is one of the newest members of the Filipinas squad, she already proved herself as one of the most talented at the recent 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. After her impressive showing at the tournament, the defender signed for Linköping FC, a Swedish powerhouse football club, on a contract until 2025.
Norway
Sara Eggesvik – Filipino-Norwegian footballer Sara Eggesvik gets the best of both worlds. She gets to represent the Philippines as a member of the Filipinas, and she also gets to compete in an international club in Norway, KIL/Hemne KSA, which plays in the First Division of the country.
Meryll Serrano – Similar to Eggesvik, Meryll Serrano competes in Norway’s top division for women, Toppserien, representing Stabæk Fotball Kvinner. Serrano has been competing all around Norway since 2012, and has represented four Norwegian clubs before Stabæk, proving her experience in the region.
Austria
Olivia and Chandler McDaniel – As one of the most important players in the Filipinas’ Women’s World Cup campaign, Olivia McDaniel has landed a European club, recently signed with FC Pinzgau Saalfelden Frauen in Austria. And, she is not the only McDaniel making the move — her sister, Chandler, will also be joining the Austrian team.
Iceland
Tahnai Annis and Dominique Randle – Filipinas captain has been a player for Þór/KA, a football club that competes in the top women’s league in Iceland, since 2012. And in 2023, a fellow Filipinas squad member joined her, as defender Dominique Randle signed for the club.
Serbia
Quinley Quezada – In 2022, over a year before the Women’s World Cup, Quinley Quezada signed for the Serbian professional club, Red Star Belgrade, which currently plays in the top professional league in the country, the Serbia Women’s Super League.
Brazil
Reina Bonta – Filipinas defender Reina Bonta grew up in the United States and competed for the Yale Bulldogs and the San Francisco Nighthawks. But, opportunities have led her professional career to a football hotspot, Brazil, competing for Santos Futebol Clube in the Brazilian Série A1, the country’s premier football league.
Banner image from Malea Cesar on Instagram.
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