Even the father of football superstar Sam Kerr admits he was worried when his daughter’s recovery from a devastating knee injury dragged on far longer than expected. But Roger Kerr now believes the Matildas captain is finally ready to return stronger than ever — just in time for the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup.
The 32-year-old striker has been sidelined for more than 20 months after tearing her anterior cruciate ligament during a pre-season training session with Chelsea. Despite undergoing a second surgery last year to remove scar tissue, Kerr’s recovery has taken longer than anticipated. However, she recently made the bench for Chelsea’s 2–1 victory over Manchester City and could make her long-awaited return against Aston Villa this weekend.
“It’s a relief,” Roger Kerr shared. “Normally, a knee reconstruction takes about 12 months. When it stretches beyond that, you start to worry. But she got the scar tissue removed, and now she’s back to full strength.”
Roger and Kerr’s mother, Roxanne, have been by her side through every hurdle — from her injury struggles to her legal battle earlier this year, when she was cleared of racially aggravated harassment charges in London. The family also faced heartbreak when Kerr’s grandmother, Coral, was seriously injured in an accident late last year and later passed away at age 90.
Despite missing the Paris Olympics, Sam Kerr is determined to lead Australia when the AFC Women’s Asian Cup kicks off on home soil next March. The Matildas will open the tournament against the Philippines at Optus Stadium in Perth, where a striking 17-metre mural celebrating Kerr and other female football icons was unveiled this week.
Roger believes the timing couldn’t be better for his daughter’s comeback. “The Asian Cup’s perfect for her — fitness, confidence, everything,” he said. “She should be right at her peak by then.”
Pat O’Connor, who captained the Matildas at the first Women’s Asian Cup in 1975, reflected on how far the women’s game has come. “Back then, we played in front of a few dozen people. Now, seeing thousands of fans cheering for players like Sam shows that all the hard work over the years has truly paid off.”
With nearly six months before the tournament begins, fans are eagerly awaiting the return of one of football’s most beloved stars — ready to once again lead the Matildas with her trademark passion and fire.
