Matildas great Elise Kellond-Knight announces retirement from professional football after weeks of speculation

Matildas veteran Elise Kellond-Knight has officially called time on her stellar professional career following weeks of speculation about her future.

The 34-year-old was not mentioned by Melbourne Victory in the A-League club’s first squad announcement for the 2024-25 season.

She hinted at moving on from the top level during a TV appearance last month, and two weeks later Victorian state-league club Avondale FC announced Kellond-Knight as a star signing for 2025.

And with a late-night post on Wednesday the 2010 Asian Cup winner confirmed she will not return to the professional stage.

“And just like that... time is up. I’ve decided to call an end to my professional football career so I can focus on and develop other areas of my life,” Kellond-Knight wrote.

“It’s been an unbelievable journey and I’m so grateful for all the wonderful people I’ve met along the way. My fondest career memories are off the pitch, especially from the travels and adventures taken.”

Kellond-Knight, whose final game at the highest level was the A-League All Stars’ clash with Arsenal in May, kicked off her globe-trotting career with a title-winning stint at Brisbane Roar.

She went on to play in Denmark, Japan, Germany, Sweden and the US with A-League Women (previously W-League) stops dotted in between.

The midfielder won a remarkable 113 caps for the Matildas and was a key member of several World Cup and Olympic squads.

Kellond-Knight was named in the All-Star team of the tournament at both the 2011 and 2015 World Cups.

“Without a doubt my biggest achievement has been to help progress the women’s game to a new level of professionalism and I take immense pride in knowing that I will leave the game in a better place than when I joined,” she said.

“Young girls now dream of becoming Matildas, and for that reason I know these years have been well spent.

“Thank you football, for the gift you gave me.”

Kellond-Knight almost retired when an ACL injury in mid-2020 kicked off a two-year battle that at one point left her unable to walk for six months.

The time away from football allowed her to study and consider what would come next, but she made her comeback in August 2022.

Kellond-Knight returned to the Matildas and was on track to make the 2023 World Cup squad before suffering a ruptured Achilles just months before the tournament on home soil.

She put the disappointment aside to feature on Channel 7’s award-winning coverage of the event.

Matildas teammates — and her former Channel 7 colleague Mel McLaughlin — rallied around Kellond-Knight following her retirement announcement on Wednesday.

“Congratulations lady. Brilliant player, intelligent analyst, fun and funny.. oh and Logie winner. What a role model! Champagne please!” McLaughlin said.

Clare Polkinghorne, Charli Grant and Ellie Carpenter all congratulated the veteran on her “amazing” career.

“Thank you for everything you have done in and for the game,” wrote Polkinghorne, who just last week announced she would soon retire from the Matildas.

Chloe Logarzo wrote: “And what an incredible career it was KK.”

Alanna Kennedy said: “Congrats KK, incredible career to be proud of xx.”

Emily Gielnik said: “Unbelievable career and I can’t wait to catch up and see what’s next for you.”

Emily van Egmond, Steph Catley, Laura Alleway, Lydia Williams, Angie Beard and Karly Roestbakken also celebrated Kellond-Knight.