| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Victoria Lucy Esson | ||
| Date of birth | (1991-03-06) 6 March 1991 (age 33) | ||
| Place of birth | Christchurch, New Zealand | ||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Goalkeeper | ||
| Team information | |||
| Current team | Rangers | ||
| Number | 22 | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2012–2013 | Texas Tech | 40 | (0) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2014 | Avaldsnes IL | ||
| 2014 | Coastal Spirit FC | ||
| 2014 | Mainland Pride | 36 | (0) |
| 2017–2018 | North Shore United (Seagulls) | 46 | (0) |
| 2019–2022 | Avaldsnes | 4 | (0) |
| 2022 | SC Sand | 12 | (0) |
| 2022– | Rangers | 29 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2008 | New Zealand U-17 | 3 | (0) |
| 2017– | New Zealand | 20 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 24 December 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 13 February 2024 | |||
Victoria Lucy Esson (born 6 March 1991) is a New Zealand association football goalkeeper, currently playing for Rangers and represents New Zealand at international level.
Early life
Esson started playing football at the age of 10 for Halswell United. At first a midfielder and later defender, she became a goalkeeper at the age of 17. Playing for Burnside High School, Esson became the team captain and played at Secondary School tournaments, getting selected to be part of South Island Secondary Schoolgirls squad and the Mainland's U-14 and U-16 squads.
Club career
Esson went to Texas Tech in 2011, becoming Tech's first-ever international football play in the schools history. Esson became Tech's all-time leader in career shut-outs, career goals against and set school records for single season and consecutive shut-outs. Esson also broke the Big 12 Conference record for single season shut-outs with 15 in 2013. Esson ended her time in goal at Tech, winning 41 of their 62 games, including six draws. After graduating, Esson signed with Avaldsnes IL. Struggling to adapt, she returned to New Zealand after just six weeks. She signed with Coastal Spirit FC, but missed most of the season with an injured hand.
In 2014, Esson was captain of Mainland Pride as they won the National Women's League, the top-flight women's football tournament of New Zealand. In 2019, Esson signed with Avaldsnes again, this time playing for three years.
In February 2022, following the injury of first goalkeeper Jasmin Pal, Esson was signed by SC Sand.
In July 2022, Esson joined Scottish club Rangers.
International career
Esson was a member of the New Zealand U-17 side at the 2008 held in New Zealand, playing all three of three of New Zealand's group games. She was also part of the New Zealand U-20 teams for the 2008 and 2010 Women's World Cups but didn't make an appearance on the field.
Esson made her senior debut for the senior New Zealand team, the Football Ferns, against Thailand. Coming on as a sub in the 80th minute in their 5–0 win.
In April 2019, Esson was named to the final 23-player squad for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup. Esson was the starting goalie for New Zealand in all the games in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.
Personal life
Esson completed her degree in wind, energy and industrial engineering while she was playing football at Texas Tech. Afterwards she got a job at the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority.
References
- "Women's Olympic Football Tournament Tokyo 2020: Squad list, New Zealand" (PDF). FIFA. 7 July 2021. p. 9. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
- ^ "Victoria Esson FIFA profile". Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
- "Victoria Esson Texas Tech Profile". Texas Tech. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
- "Caps 'n' Goals, New Zealand Women's national representatives". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
- ^ "Victoria Esson UltimateNZ Soccer profile". UltimateNZSoccer. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
- ^ Fifa Women’s World Cup: The remarkable journey of Football Ferns goalkeeper Victoria Esson
- "Victoria Esson: From New Zealand to Texas Tech". Texas Tech. 4 August 2011. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
- ^ Egan, Brendon (11 October 2014). "New Pride captain a real keeper". The Press. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
- ^ Voerman, Andrew (19 July 2023). "FIFA Women's World Cup: How Football Ferns goalkeeper Vic Esson was forged in Norway". Stuff. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
- "Mainland Pride retain ASB Women's League title". Stuff. 7 December 2014. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
- "SC Sand verpflichtet Torhüterin Victoria Esson" [SC Sand sign goalkeeper Victoria Esson] (in German). SC Sand. 1 February 2022.
- "Football Ferns standout Vic Esson joins Scottish champions Rangers". Stuff. 21 July 2022.
- "Football Ferns too good for Thailand". Northern Football Ferderation. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
- "Football Ferns duo Abby Erceg, Sarah Gregorius out of retirement to face Scotland". Stuff. 9 February 2018. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
- "Football Ferns squad revealed for World Cup". New Zealand Herald. 28 April 2019.
- Co-host New Zealand out of Women's World Cup following 0–0 draw with Swiss
External links
- Victoria Esson – FIFA competition record (archived)
- Profile at NZF
- Victoria Esson at Soccerway
- Victoria Esson at Soccerway.com
- Victoria Esson at WorldFootball.net
- Victoria Esson at kicker (in German)
- Victoria Esson at FBref.com
- Victoria Esson at the Norway Football Association (in Norwegian)
| Rangers W.F.C. – current squad | |
|---|---|
- 1991 births
- Living people
- Footballers at the 2020 Summer Olympics
- Olympic association footballers for New Zealand
- New Zealand expatriate sportspeople in Germany
- New Zealand expatriate sportspeople in the United States
- New Zealand women's association footballers
- New Zealand women's international footballers
- Women's association football goalkeepers
- 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup players
- Texas Tech Red Raiders women's soccer players
- Rangers W.F.C. players
- Expatriate women's footballers in Scotland
- New Zealand expatriate women's association footballers
- New Zealand expatriate sportspeople in Norway
- New Zealand expatriate sportspeople in Scotland
- Avaldsnes IL players
- SC Sand players
- Expatriate women's footballers in Norway
- Expatriate women's footballers in Germany
- 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup players
- Association footballers from Christchurch
- Footballers at the 2024 Summer Olympics
- 21st-century New Zealand sportswomen