Mary Fowler (soccer)
Mary Fowler | |
|---|---|
| Born | Mary Boio Fowler February 14, 2003 Cairns, Queensland, Australia |
| Occupation | Professional soccer player |
| Years active | 2019–present |
| Known for | Forward and midfielder for Manchester City and the Australia national team |
Mary Boio Fowler (born 14 February 2003) is an Australian professional soccer player currently representing Manchester City in the English Women's Super League, as well as the Australia national team. While she primarily plays as a forward, she is also capable of performing in a midfielder role.
Chosen for Australia's squad at the 2023 World Cup, Fowler scored the decisive goal in a friendly match against France held in July 2023 prior to the tournament.
Early life and education
Born in Cairns, Queensland, Fowler is the third child among five siblings. Her first and middle names pay tribute to her grandmothers: Mary on her father's side and Boio on her mother's. Her father, Kevin, hails from Dublin, Ireland, while her mother, Nido, originates from Kira Kira in Papua New Guinea; it was there that her parents met.
Fowler attended Holy Cross Primary School in Cairns, where mathematics was her preferred subject. Growing up without a television at home, she spent much of her time playing football around Trinity Beach. During childhood, she enjoyed artistic activities such as drawing and writing poetry, which she credits with shaping her approach to the game.
Beginning football at seven years old, Fowler played for boys' teams including Saints FC and Leichhardt FC based in Cairns. At age ten, she earned selection for Queensland’s under-12 squad. Her family relocated to the Netherlands for three years, during which she competed for BVV Barendrecht and became proficient in Dutch.
Upon returning to Australia at 14, Fowler enrolled at Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts and played for Bankstown City within the NSW Women's National Premier League. In 2019, at 16 years old, she signed her inaugural professional contract with Adelaide United, moving to South Australia to commence her professional journey.
Adelaide United
Fowler made her debut in the W-League during the opening match of the 2019–20 season for Adelaide United, scoring her first goal despite a 2–1 defeat to Western Sydney Wanderers.
Montpellier
On her 17th birthday in February 2020, Fowler secured a three-year contract with French Ligue 1 side Montpellier HSC, following an undisclosed transfer fee negotiated by her father. She made her first appearance against Olympique Lyonnais later that month. In May 2021, ESPN listed her among the top international prospects in their "21 under 21" feature.
Manchester City
In June 2022, Fowler signed a four-year agreement with English FA WSL club Manchester City. She netted her initial goals for the team in October 2022 by converting two penalties during a commanding 6-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers.
Fowler described joining Manchester City as an advancement in her career, emphasizing enhanced tactical understanding fostered by the club's elevated standards and resources. By April 2023, she acknowledged both the heightened expectations and growth opportunities presented at Manchester City.
Her impressive displays led to nominations for The Best FIFA Women's Player and the European Golden Girl Award towards the end of 2023. In her sophomore season with the club, Fowler earned increased starting roles, including scoring twice in a 4-0 win against Bristol City in April 2024.
On 13 April 2025, Fowler suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury during Manchester City's FA Cup semi-final clash with Manchester United, which affected her availability for subsequent matches.
Young Matildas
At just 15 years old, Fowler earned a spot in the Australian under-20 team, known as the Young Matildas, selected by coach Leah Blayney for the 23-player roster competing at the 2018 AFF Women's Championship in Indonesia. Facing senior teams from ASEAN nations, Fowler emerged as the tournament’s leading goal scorer, netting ten goals in total, including an impressive five against Cambodia and two during the 3–2 final defeat to Thailand, where Australia finished as runners-up.
2018 Tournament of Nations
Despite overtures from the Football Association of Ireland, Fowler committed to Australia’s squad for the 2018 Tournament of Nations. Making her debut against Brazil at the age of 15 years and 162 days, she became the fifth youngest player ever to represent the Matildas. Head coach Alen Stajcic commended her as one of the most gifted young talents in women’s football.
Later that year, Fowler featured off the bench in friendly matches versus England and France but was absent from games against Chile as she trialed with Chelsea, West Ham, and Manchester City—all clubs showing interest in signing her. Additionally, she engaged in sprinting and strength training sessions in Manchester under coach Mick Clegg.
2019 FIFA Women's World Cup
Fowler was included in Australia’s squad for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup. At 16 years old, she was the youngest member of the team. Although a hamstring injury prevented her from making an appearance during the tournament, she gained valuable experience before Australia’s exit in the first knockout round.
2020 Summer Olympics
Chosen for the 2020 Summer Olympics, Fowler made her Olympic debut coming on as a substitute against New Zealand. The Matildas advanced to the quarter-finals where Fowler scored during extra time in a thrilling 4–3 victory over Great Britain. Australia was subsequently defeated by Sweden in the semi-finals and lost to the United States in the bronze medal playoff.
2023 FIFA Women's World Cup
Fowler was selected for the Matildas squad participating in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, stepping up as a key player following captain Sam Kerr’s early injury. Prior to the tournament, she scored the decisive goal in a friendly win over France witnessed by a record crowd.
She missed Australia’s second group stage game against Nigeria due to concussion but returned to open her World Cup scoring account with a goal in a 4–0 group stage triumph over Canada in Melbourne.
In the Round of 16 clash against Denmark, Fowler delivered a vital assist for Australia’s first goal, helping secure a 2–0 victory. During the quarter-final match versus France, she successfully converted her penalty kick during Australia’s first competitive shootout win.
2024 Summer Olympics
On 4 June 2024, Fowler was officially named in the Matildas squad for the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics, marking her second consecutive Olympic selection.
Family
Fowler began her professional journey alongside her older sister Ciara, with both signing contracts at Adelaide United within the same year. They made their professional debuts together during the opening fixture of the 2019–20 season, with Ciara entering as a substitute in the 85th minute.
Interests
Fowler has a passion for travel and language acquisition. She resided in Montpellier but faced homesickness amid the Covid pandemic. Although she learned Dutch during her schooling in the Netherlands, she found mastering French to be more demanding. Since relocating to Manchester, she has partially adopted the local accent and finds it easier to visit her Irish grandfather in Dublin. She places great importance on maintaining a connection to her roots and has publicly affirmed her strong affinity for Ireland. In 2023, she made a visit to Papua New Guinea and is actively participating in the creation of a football academy or school there. During the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, her mother's native village celebrated her achievements with banners and organized viewing events.
Artistic activities such as painting, sketching, and journaling continue to serve as vital outlets for Fowler to alleviate stress. She also enjoys listening to music from the 1980s and writing letters addressed to her future self.
Since August 2023, Fowler has been romantically linked with Australian rugby league athlete Nathan Cleary.
Endorsements
Prior to the 2023 World Cup, Fowler was selected as one of the Australian representatives for Adidas and appointed as a brand ambassador for the sports retailer Rebel Sport. In December 2023, she was also named a brand ambassador for the childcare organization Rise & Shine.
In May 2024, Mattel unveiled a new Barbie doll inspired by Fowler, joining seven other athletes including Venus Williams.
Club
| Club | Season | League | National cup[lower-alpha 1] | League cup[lower-alpha 2] | Continental[lower-alpha 3] | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Adelaide United | 2019–20 | W-League | 7 | 3 | — | — | — | 7 | 3 | |||
| Montpellier HSC | 2019–20 | D1 Féminine | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2020–21 | D1 Féminine | 22 | 5 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 23 | 5 | |||
| 2021–22 | D1 Féminine | 17 | 5 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 18 | 5 | |||
| Total | 40 | 10 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 42 | 10 | ||||
| Manchester City | 2022–23 | Women's Super League | 11 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 22 | 5 |
| 2023–24 | Women's Super League | 21 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 0 | — | 30 | 6 | ||
| 2024–25 | Women's Super League | 17 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 2 | 34 | 10 | |
| Total | 49 | 11 | 10 | 2 | 15 | 6 | 12 | 2 | 86 | 21 | ||
| Career total | 96 | 24 | 12 | 2 | 15 | 6 | 12 | 2 | 135 | 34 | ||
International
| National Team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 2018 | 3 | 0 |
| 2019 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 16 | 5 | |
| 2022 | 12 | 4 | |
| 2023 | 16 | 4 | |
| 2024 | 11 | 2 | |
| 2025 | 5 | 1 | |
| Total | 64 | 16 | |
- Scores and results list Australia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Fowler goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 June 2021 | Forum Horsens Arena, Horsens, Denmark | Template:Fbw | 1–3 | 2–3 | Friendly | |
| 2 | 30 July 2021 | Kashima Soccer Stadium, Kashima, Ibaraki, Japan | Template:Fbw | 3–2 | 4–3 | 2020 Summer Olympics | |
| 3 | 21 September 2021 | Tallaght Stadium, Dublin, Ireland | Template:Fbw | 1–1 | 2–3 | Friendly | |
| "21 September 2021" | "Tallaght Stadium", Dublin, Ireland | "Template:Fbw\" | "2–2" | ||||
| "23 October 2021" | "Western Sydney Stadium, Sydney, Australia" | "Template:Fbw\" | "2–0" | "3–1" | "Friendly" | ||
| "21 January 2022" | "Mumbai Football Arena, Mumbai, India" | "Template:Fbw\" | "4–0" | "18–0" | "2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup" | ||
| "24 January 2022" | "Mumbai Football Arena, Mumbai, India" | "Template:Fbw\" | "4–0" | ||||
| "6 September 2022" | "Sydney Football Stadium", Sydney, Australia | "CAN" | "1–0" | "1–2" | "Friendly" | ||
| "12 November 2022" | "AAMI Park", Melbourne, Australia | "SWE" | "3–0" | "4–0" | "Friendly" | ||
| "14 July 2023" | "Docklands Stadium", Melbourne, Australia | "FRA" | "1–0" | "1–0" | "Friendly" | ||
| "31 July 2023" | "Melbourne Rectangular Stadium", Melbourne, Australia | "CAN" | "3–0" | "4–0" | "2023 FIFA Women's World Cup" | ||
| "29 October 2023" | "Perth Stadium", Perth, Australia | "PHI" | "1–0" | "8–0" | "2024 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament" | ||
| "1 November 2023" | "Perth Rectangular Stadium", Perth, Australia | "TPE" | "1–0" | "3–0" | |||
| "24 February 2024" | "Milliy Stadium, Tashkent, Uzbekistan" | "UZB" | "2–0" | "3–0" | |||
| "28 February 2024" | "Marvel Stadium, Melbourne, Australia" | "UZB" | "6–0" | "10–0" | |||
| "7 April 2025" | "Newcastle International Sports Centre, Newcastle, Australia" | "KOR"
HonoursInternational Achievements
Individual Accolades
Further reading
External links |
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- Pages with script errors
- Articles with short description
- Articles with hCards
- No local image but image on Wikidata
- 2003 births
- Living people
- Australian women's soccer players
- Australia women's international soccer players
- Women's association football forwards
- Adelaide United FC (women) players
- Montpellier HSC (women) players
- Manchester City W.F.C. players
- 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup players
- Australian expatriate women's soccer players
- Australian expatriate sportspeople in France
- Expatriate women's footballers in France
- Australian expatriate sportspeople in England
- Australian people of Irish descent
- Australian people of Papua New Guinean descent
- Sportspeople from Cairns
- Soccer players from Queensland
- Footballers at the 2020 Summer Olympics
- Olympic soccer players for Australia
- Sportswomen from Queensland
- Women's Super League players
- Expatriate women's footballers in England
- Expatriate women's footballers in the Netherlands
- Australian expatriate sportspeople in the Netherlands
- 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup players
- Footballers at the 2024 Summer Olympics
- 21st-century Australian sportswomen
- Pages with reference errors