Maria Farrugia
 Maria Farrugia in 2022 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Maria Farrugia | ||
| Date of birth | 9 January 2001 | ||
| Place of birth | Gozo, Malta, | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Sunderland | ||
| Number | 10 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2019– | Sunderland | 24 | (4) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2016–2017 | 6 | (3) | |
| 2018 | 3 | (0) | |
| 2019– | Malta | 25 | (2) |
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 28 April 2020 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 28 April 2020 (UTC) | |||
Maria Farrugia (born 9 January 2001) is a Maltese footballer who plays as a midfielder for Sunderland and has appeared for the Malta women's national team.
Club career[]
Growing 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 in Valletta, 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, in a Northern Premier Division loss to Blackburn.[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]
International career[]
Farrugia has been capped for the Malta national team, appearing for the team during the UEFA Women's Euro 2021 qualifying cycle.[6]
International goals[]
| 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 |
References[]
- ^ "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!