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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Sport
Jack Snape in Brisbane

Matildas ‘legend’ Clare Polkinghorne to bid farewell amid end of an era against Brazil

Clare Polkinghorne runs with the ball in training
Clare Polkinghorne will retire from football after playing her 168th match for the Matildas when Australia face Brazil at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday. Photograph: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

She is the defensive stalwart for the sporting team that has become Australia’s darling, yet after 18 years with the Matildas, Clare Polkinghorne has a clear-cut view of retirement: “I’ll definitely need a job.”

The 35-year-old will play her last game of professional football on Thursday in the Matildas’ friendly against Brazil, which is doubling as a fond farewell for the Queenslander. It will be her 168th international appearance, a record for an Australian footballer, and comes almost two decades after her debut.

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