As we are currently in Female Football Week, we will profile some of our League One Women’s Team, starting with Sophie Nenadovic.
If there is any one signing that exemplifies the A-League Women’s ambitions of the Mariners, Sophie Nenadovic is it. The 23 year old is a former Junior Matilda and already a W League veteran of seven seasons. She may come from the old enemy of Newcastle Jets but is already excited to win over Mariners fans.
You has become a regular fixture at Central Coast Stadium in the yellow and navy. “I love attending as many games as possible and supporting our men’s team now I’m a part of the club!”
Nenadovic debuted in the W-League for the Jets all the way back in 2013. She was only 15 years old. Additionally, she has been playing for Manly United in the NPL since 2017, winning two premierships in that time.
After a few injury-hit campaigns, she is really looking forward to the challenge of playing with her new teammates.
“After a serious ankle injury sustained with the Jets, I ended up having an ankle reconstruction; so I missed a W-League season because I was still rehabbing. I was keen for a fresh start. I hope to be part of the Mariners A-League Women’s team in their return campaign. It’s really exciting stuff. I hope I can help be part of a hardworking team that’ll bring a lot of success to the club!”
She will be part of a team that will be looking to inspire kids on the Central Coast just like she was inspired growing up in Newcastle. By her own admission, she was a “little fan girl” for the Jets, and created a “squadron” to support the team with her school friends at Hunter Sports High.
If Coasties can forgive her past Newcastle allegiances – difficult, we know – then it won’t be long before she has a squadron of her own!
Nenadovic played predominantly as a defender or in midfield while at the Jets. She is hoping that she will be able to emulate the likes of her favourite player Thiago at Liverpool and control the midfield for the Mariners this season.
She will be hoping that one day playing for the Mariners can recreate atmospheres like she experienced for the Young Matildas. She describes one of her favourite football memories:
“I played with the Young Matilda’s in the AFF championships in Myanmar where we played the host nation in a group stage match in front of a home crowd of 22,000 fans. It was insane! We could barely hear each other on the pitch, something I will never forget!”
Challenge accepted, Coasties?
