Sydney FC’s superstar midfielder Angelique Hrisodoulou has the football genes running through her veins, gaining inspiration from her father Eric Hristodoulou, who played for Sydney Olympic in the former National Soccer League.
The 19-year-old has not only been signed in the W-League since she was 15, but has gone on to represent Australia in the international sphere with the Mini Matildas, at one stage captaining the team.
“The Under 17s are only about 15 or 16, so it’s quite a lot of, I wouldn’t say pressure, but the stakes are high,” she told Neos Kosmos.
Her number one supporters along the way, like many other players, have been her parents.
“They’re my rock, whenever I need anything, advice, they’re always there and they’ll tell me the way it is…They keep me grounded, they’ve sacrificed so much for me as well to be where I am and I wouldn’t be able to be where I am without them.”
Hrisodoulou talks about her close bond with fellow teammate Teresa Polias and pushing through the lows of life on and off the field.
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What drew you to football?
I’ve grown up in a footballing family. Dad used to play when he was a youngster, I always heard his stories growing up about how he used to play. My brother also used to play, so really it’s really been in the family. Ever since I can remember I started playing.
It’s game day, what do you do to get in the zone before the match?
I wouldn’t say I’m superstitious but I like to keep the same routine. I get up and have my breakfast, I like to go on a bit of a walk, listen to some music and just relax. I don’t like to think too much because it can effect your performance.
Sometimes the more you have to think about the game, the worse off it is. You overanalyse.
Top 3 training songs?
I like All of the Lights by Kanye West, I like Can’t Hold Us by Macklemore. What’s another pump up song I like? I don’t know, i don’t know what my third one would be. Those are my top two, those are my staples!
What do you find most challenging about the game?
I feel like, as any athlete would know, there are a lot of things that you need to sacrifice. The early mornings, we train at 6:30am so we have to wake up at 4:30. Also the highs and lows you have to go through. Not making teams, you have to be resilient. Sometimes you have to sit on the bench, you don’t make the starting line up.
Those all play a role mentally, you have to be mentally strong. Injuries play a big role, physically because they put you on the sideline. No one wants to be injured, no one wants to be watching their team play. It’s definitely a hard part of football but it’s all part of the game. It all makes you stronger in the end but there are those hurdles that make it tough.
What has been a highlight in your sporting career thus far?
I was the captain of the Mini Matildas a couple of years back now, going overseas and trying to qualify for the World Cup wearing the Aussie jersey was a very proud moment which I was honoured to do. Playing for your country at any time is an honourable experience.
Also winning the Grand Final with Sydney FC a couple of years back now against Perth, that’s been a pretty big moment. I’ve played for Sydney FC for four years now and for three of those we’ve made three grand finals, it’s pretty crazy.
How has football impacted your life?
Football is my life! I’d say it’s had an impact for the better. Discipline wise it’s taught me a lot, time management, it just keeps you grounded as well. You know that you have to be extra disciplined, you can’t go out the night before or you have to eat right before you play to fuel your body.
It’s also just brought me a lot of joy, you meet lots of new people, you meet friends for life and just being on the field, doing what you love is a great feeling.
What is something you learned about yourself through playing the game?
I’ve learnt that I’m actually a pretty tough character. I’ve been through some highs and lows like I said before and really my resilience and having a thick skin, so no matter what anyone thinks of you or says about you, you just keep going. Don’t take things to heart, just keep working hard and just keep doing what you do. The opportunity and time will come for you one day.
just because one coach doesn’t like you, the coaches don’t stick around forever. Everyone has a different opinion, you just have to keep doing what you do and keep working hard and hopefully for me it’ll pay off.
What do you hope to achieve in the next year?
It’s a hard one. Well obviously right now my focus is with Sydney FC. I hope to win the premiership and the championship with them. That’s what the goal is for me at the moment. Personally, I just want to get on the field and play the best that I can to get recognised for the Matildas one day, in a year it might be too soon but in three or four years it’s definitely something I have my eyes on. So to keep playing well for Sydney FC and to get recgosnised for that is definitely one of my goals.
Beyond soccer I’m at uni at the moment, I’m in my second year doing PE Teaching, so I’m also looking to complete that.
What’s something someone might be surprised to learn about you?
I feel like sometimes I can come across as quite an intimidating person, but once you get to know me I’m not like that. I’m quite a bubbly person, I’m friendly although I might look intimidating I’m definitely not. I’m a bit like my dad in that sense, we look tough but we’re soft on the inside.
Favourite way to unwind after a game?
Probably just getting some nice food in, after paying 90 minutes you’re just so hungry. So getting a good feed in and recovering really well for the next day because after that we’ve got training so you’ve got to get good rest.
What do you think is the biggest misconception of women in sport?
Firstly I think we train just as much as the men, basically the schedule that we have is the same as the men so I think maybe the biggest misconception is that we don’t work as hard but in reality we do, we do just as much as the men. A lot of the girls in my team have a second job. I know Teresa Polias is a full time teacher, we definitely put in the work and it’s very hard to juggle both actually.
What are you most looking forward to in 2021?
Just finishing this W-League season, I know it’s kind of coming to the end of the season but I’d love to win another championship with Sydney FC and now that I’m established compared to a couple of years ago I’d like to actually play a grand final and actually win one. But also with my Sydney Olympic team, we fell a bit short last season so we’ve got goals on winning this season as well. So looking forward to that as well.
What is something you want to be remembered by?
I obviously want to be remembered as a good player, but also a good person off the field as well. A role model to the girls coming up, someone they can look up to and seek advice from. Like me now with Teresa Polias who is like a big sister, I look up to her, I learn a lot from her on the field and off the field as well. Someone that’s approachable and that can guide the young ones.