Maria Farrugia (born 9 January 2001) is a Maltese footballer who plays as a midfielder for Sheffield United in the FA Women's Championship and for the Malta women's national team.
 Maria Farrugia in 2022 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Maria Farrugia | ||
| Date of birth | 9 January 2001 | ||
| Place of birth | Gozo, Malta | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Sheffield United | ||
| Number | 9 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2019–2022 | Sunderland | 57 | (17) |
| 2022–2023 | Durham | 27 | (0) |
| 2023–2024 | Lewes | 25 | (3) |
| 2024– | Sheffield United | 13 | (7) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2016–2017 | Malta U17 | 6 | (3) |
| 2018 | Malta U19 | 3 | (0) |
| 2019– | Malta | 49 | (9) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:32, 23 October 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 28 April 2020 | |||
Club career
editGrowing up on the island of Gozo, Farrugia began playing football at the age of four. She would play on boys' teams until the U15 level. At the age of 11, she was selected to join the Malta Football Association Academy, having to take the ferry to commute from Gozo to the main island.[1]
After graduating from the National Sport School, Malta, she moved to the UK, where she began training with Sunderland AFC's Foundation of Light.[2] In 2019, she signed with Sunderland AFC Ladies, making her debut with the club in mid-February 2019.[3]
In July 2021, she signed a one-year extension with Sunderland.[4] She was named the FA Women's Championship Player of the Week for the first week of the 2021–22 season.[5]
After departing Sunderland, Farrugia joined Durham.[6]
At the end of June 2023, Lewes FC Women announced that she would be joining their team.[7] She won the goal of the month for January 2024 as well as the player of the month for March 2024 with Lewes FC Women.
On 19 August 2024, Farrugia was announced at Sheffield United. Farrugia shortly after won both the player of the month and the goal of the month for October 2024 with Sheffield United. She also won the goal of the month for November 2024.[8]
International career
editFarrugia has been capped for the Malta national team, making her debut in 2019 and also appearing for the team during the UEFA Women's Euro 2021 qualifying cycle.[9]
International goals
edit| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 7 November 2019 | Centenary Stadium, Ta'Qali, Malta |  Israel |
1–0 | 1–1 | UEFA Women's Euro 2022 qualifying |
| 2. | 21 September 2021 |  Bosnia and Herzegovina |
1–2 | 2–2 | 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification | |
| 3. | 6 September 2022 | Camp FSCG, Podgorica, Montenegro |  Montenegro |
1–0 | 2–0 | |
| 4. | 27 October 2023 | Centenary Stadium, Ta'Qali, Malta |  Andorra |
4–0 | 5–0 | 2023–24 UEFA Women's Nations League |
| 5. | 5 December 2023 |  Latvia |
2–1 | 2–1 | ||
| 6. | 4 June 2024 | Bosnia and Herzegovina FA Training Centre, Zenica, Bosnia & Herzegovina | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
1–0 | 1–2 | UEFA Women's Euro 2025 qualifying |
| 7. | 16 July 2024 | Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa, Leiria, Portugal |  Portugal |
1–1 | 1–3 |
References
edit- ^ "Malta's Rapid Rise". 19 February 2021.
- ^ "Scholar Maria delighted to sign for Sunderland AFC Ladies". 18 February 2019.
- ^ "Farrugia eager to make most of Sunderland AFC opportunity".
- ^ "Maltese midfielder Farrugia signs new Sunderland deal". 7 July 2021.
- ^ @FAWomensChamp (1 September 2021). "As voted for by you... The #FAWC Gameweek One Player of the Week goes to Maria Farrugia of @SAFCLadies! 👏" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Lia, Gianluca (8 August 2022). "Maria Farrugia moves to Championship side Durham Women FC". Times of Malta.
- ^ "Farrugia signs – Lewes Community Football Club". lewesfc.com. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
- ^ "Farrugia joins the Blades". www.sufc.co.uk.
- ^ "Malta – Squad – UEFA Women's Euro". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
External links
edit- Maria Farrugia – UEFA competition record (archive)
- Maria Farrugia at Soccerway
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