Adelaide United’s standout player, Erin Healy, shares with aleagues.com.au the pivotal moment when she almost walked away from football and how an exceptional debut season in the Ninja A-League has sparked hopes for an unexpected international call-up.
Less than two years ago, Erin Healy, a recent university graduate, was contemplating leaving football behind.
After finishing her studies and college football career at Gonzaga University, Healy had secured an accounting position in the United States. At that point, her passion for pursuing football as a career was absent, and the thought of turning the sport into a profession felt distant.
All of that changed, however, after a transformative season playing in Portugal.
“Looking back, it’s quite amusing to see where I am now,” Healy told aleagues.com.au.
“When I first went to Europe, I thought it might be a year, maybe two at most. Now here I am, with no end in sight. I genuinely believe I could keep playing for as long as my body allows.
“If my college self could see me now, they’d be laughing, thinking there’s no way this is what I’m actually doing. But I’m absolutely thrilled I chose to continue and not hang up my boots.”
Now, Healy is establishing herself as a rising talent in the Ninja A-League, with aspirations of representing Ireland internationally—not the United States. This opportunity only began to materialise after she became an Irish citizen in September.
With her fun-loving approach to football, the skilful forward now appears set for a prolonged career in the beautiful game, her decision to postpone an accounting career validated by an outstanding debut season with Adelaide United.
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“After finishing college, I was unsure if I wanted to pursue professional football,” Healy reflected. “I felt ready to hang up my boots. But then, I considered this as my chance to explore the world, so I thought I should at least give it a go for a year.
“At that time, I was thinking about beginning my career. I had an accounting job lined up and lacked a solid plan.
“A year prior, I had an internship at the same company, which I enjoyed, so I thought corporate life might be right for me. I’m thankful I didn’t commit yet—it’s still an option.
“Many people advised me: you can work your entire life. You don’t need to start right after college. It’s perfectly fine to explore and play football for a couple of years. If you’re even mildly considering it, you should seize the opportunity.”
“I was open to anywhere in Europe; I didn’t have a specific location in mind. When a Portuguese club (Club de Albergaria) reached out, I thought: I’ll go for the experience and the travel. In the US, you can do a semester abroad, but as an athlete, I couldn’t do that while playing in college.
“I viewed it as my chance to study abroad without actually studying while playing football. That was my mindset; it wasn’t solely focused on football; it was more about exploring the world.”
“Once I arrived, I realised just how crucial football was to me and how much I craved a more competitive environment that would challenge me. So, I’m really grateful for that experience. I discovered that football means more to me than I had realised.”
Leaving behind her home in San Diego, Healy ventured abroad in search of new experiences, which she found in Albergaria-a-Velha, a small town in Portugal, living with four other international players at Club de Albergaria.
“Our living situation in Portugal was quite interesting,” Healy remarked.
“I shared a house with five other international players, which was fantastic – but we lived with a 90-year-old woman, who was the vice president’s grandmother and lent her house to us—she also lived there.
“It was a very small, traditional Portuguese house, as original as it gets. We had a kitchen and bedrooms. It was a far cry from here; life in Adelaide is much improved. It was a unique experience, and I’m glad I went through it, but I’m also really pleased to enjoy a better living situation now.”
“In Adelaide, I share a house with two other players – Tiana Karambasis and Lucia Leon. It’s been an ideal scenario for living arrangements. You never know what it’ll be like when the club places you together, and you just hope for the best.
“I’ve been incredibly fortunate. I have two housemates, and we get along famously. It’s akin to living with your best friends, so I can’t really complain. We’re all away from home, so we can relate to each other’s experiences. If anyone needs help, we’re there for one another. When families visit, they also become part of our extended family—it’s been wonderful.”
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The more Healy discusses life in Adelaide, the clearer it becomes that a supportive environment off the pitch is crucial for her on-field success.
From sunny San Diego to Portugal and now South Australia, Healy has found herself in a city offering many of the comforts she misses from home in the US: beaches, warm weather, and teammates who have become like family.
After 15 games into her Ninja A-League career, Healy’s form with the Reds has been electric. Five goals and two assists tell only part of the story; it’s her ability to carry the ball, intricate footwork, and skilful dribbling that have distinguished Healy as a footballing phenomenon in the Ninja A-League.
Only Melbourne City’s Lourdes Bosch has completed more successful take-ons, total take-ons, and dribbles than Healy this season.
Healy refers to her skill as magic; the emphasis on skills and flair instilled in her by her youth coach Gabe Arrendando at the age of eight while playing for Crusaders Soccer Club in San Diego.
“Reflecting on it, I continued playing because I had fun and was enjoying time with my friends,” Healy reminisced.
“That joy started from the very beginning. Our first coach, Gabe, emphasised that we should enjoy ourselves. He always called it magic. With all the ball skills, stepovers, and Maradona spins, we would earn prizes based on our skills.
“We painted magic wands, and he would note the game and the skill we displayed. As a kid, I aimed to earn a magic wand each game. He made it enjoyable, and I think that enjoyment is why I kept going.”
Healy’s rise from a newcomer in the Ninja A-League to a standout contributor has mirrored an unexpected journey to Irish citizenship.
Eligible for citizenship due to her Irish grandfather, Healy has held dual US/Irish citizenship for eight months. The prospect of representing Ireland is now a tangible goal, along with her quest for silverware with the Reds.
“Back in uni, my coach used to ask players if they had a second nationality and encouraged them to get citizenship if so, to increase their chances of representing a country. When my coach asked me, I replied: ‘I think so, but I’m not entirely sure!’ I just didn’t understand how it worked or how far back family ties could go.
“My grandad grew up in Ireland before moving to the US, making my mum an Irish citizen, and that granted me the same rights. We began the citizenship process around the time I graduated.
“I received my citizenship back in September and began contemplating how amazing it would be to play for their national team. I’ve been speaking with my agent, assessing if that’s realistic, and am using this season to catch their attention.”
“I hope that opportunity arises; that’s my goal for the upcoming months: to represent Ireland and see where it leads me. I’m ecstatic to have acquired citizenship and that it’s even a possibility.”
Healy and Adelaide United will next compete in the Ninja A-League at home this weekend, as they host Central Coast Mariners at Coopers Stadium on Saturday night.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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