Sam Kerr: "By being who I am, I hope that allows others to be who they are."

Ask fans to describe Sam Kerr and you’d be bombarded by individualistic traits. Champion. Legend. GOAT. Right or wrong, many describe Kerr by what she does as an individual on the pitch, but the truth is, the CommBank Matildas’ skipper is the ultimate team player off it.

Acutely aware of her front-facing role, Kerr plays her part as a leader. Fronting media, delivering on commercial obligations to ensure the future viability of her teams, and even participating in interviews such as this.

Chelsea FC’s leading goal scorer knows it’s all part and parcel of something that grew from wanting to play park football with the boys, to selling out international stadiums, collecting major accolades and captaining her national team.

“Thinking about when I first started playing for the CommBank Matildas, to where we are now, as a team. How we're treated and how we're seen… It’s what we've always dreamed of,” Kerr said when speaking about her off-pitch commitments.

“Being part of that process has always kept myself and the team humble because we didn't always have these opportunities. To sell out stadiums, things like that.”

In early 2019 when former CommBank Matildas’ coach, Ante Milicic, appointed Kerr as captain, no one was more surprised than her. Her worldwide acclaim spoke for itself. The self-confessed class clown executed the role as a genuinely collaborative one.

“When I was first asked to captain the CommBank Matildas, I was a little bit shocked. But it's something that I was never going to say no to.

“It's such a massive honour to play for the CommBank Matildas, but to also captain the team is amazing. It's honestly been so enjoyable and I've grown a lot. Even more so off the pitch than on the pitch. We have so many leaders. So many people could be (the) captain,” she explained. 

“I was actually thinking the other day, that I captain nearly every second game these days, because we have so many milestones, so it's been really nice to enjoy it and share it with the team.

“I look up to so many of the girls and to lead them out is an honour. But it's also been an honour when they've led us out too. I think that's the great part about this team, that everyone plays their part. Everyone could wear the captain's armband. There are no egos in this team, it's all about making sure the team succeeds.”

It’s not only leadership that is shared amongst the team. Kerr, understanding of the media that surrounds herself and her performance, is conscious of ensuring the spotlight equally shines on those around her.

“I definitely do it [ensure everyone is recognised] consciously. But mostly, I do it because that's what I believe, I think that every single person plays a part,” Kerr explained.

“Whether it's me, Caitlin [Foord], or anyone scoring, there's always someone who made a tackle to get you the ball and someone who passed the ball. There are always people sitting on the bench that support you, get you water, or are there when someone is injured. It's a team effort.

“We've all been on the other side, where we've had to be the support and it's not easy. I think the fact that I've been on both sides of the bench, acted as a learning curve that made me realise, it's not always easy, so my success being everyone's success is really important to me," she continued.

“I'm never one to put myself on a pedestal and say, it was all me because I don't believe that at all. I know how important every single person is on our team, even beyond the players, the staff, our family, everything that goes into being the best team that we can be, goes beyond just the 23 players in the squad.”

With the Cup of Nations taking place during Sydney World Pride, the CommBank Matildas unanimously voted to don rainbow pride numbers on their jerseys along with Kerr wearing the Pride Progress Captains' Armband during the February 19 match against Spain at CommBank Stadium.

"With Sydney WorldPride 2023 coming up, the option to wear rainbow numbers on our jersey was put forward and the response from the team was really good. Everyone was on board and wanted to show that we are an inclusive team," Kerr said of the decision.

"We're very accepting of everyone, no matter who they want to be, who they want to love, what religion they are, what race they are, we are all together as one. We wanted to show the community that no matter who you are, you will be accepted.

"Everyone should feel comfortable in whatever skin they're in, whoever they want to be, whoever they want to love. I think sometimes the world could be a little bit nicer to one another and this is just one way of showing we stand with everyone inside and outside of the community," she continued.

"To wear the Australian jersey is always a massive honour, but to wear the rainbow colours,  something that I've always been really proud and passionate about is really special.

"Hopefully the public sees that together, we want to send the message of being really inclusive, accepting and loving of one another. No matter who you are, who you want to be, where you come from or who you love, you will be welcomed."

Not one to take her role and her platform for granted, Kerr is unapologetically herself, with her openness and authenticity empowering and encouraging those who follow her career.

Even as a child, Kerr never let societal expectations dictate her path and with a combined social media following of over 1.5 million on her personal accounts alone, she wittingly gives others the courage to do the same.

“I think it's something that I've become more conscious about,” Kerr said when asked how much thought goes into what she shares on social media.

“When I first started playing, I just didn't see any reason to explain who I was, what I was into, what I liked, or whatever it may have been.

“I’ve been lucky to have always had a very supportive family. I grew up being a little tomboy and my parents never had anything to say about it and neither did the rest of my family.

“My mum said, even as a kid, I didn't understand why the boys didn't want me to play with them, or why people thought it was weird that I looked like a little boy, but I've always believed that whoever it is, whatever they wear, whoever they want to be, is totally fine,” she continued.

“As I've found myself more and more in the spotlight, I have become more conscious of the impact that the things I post and the things I say, can have on people, but the one thing that I've always been really proud of is that I've always been myself and hopefully, people find comfort in that.

“I also think all of my role models have been people who have really impacted me off the pitch, more so than on the pitch,” she continued.

“I've found that when someone's really powerful off the pitch, they bring people with them, they bring the team, they bring a country with them. That's always really resonated with me and that's what I try and do now.

“I always try and make everyone feel welcome, and by being who I am, allow them to be who they are. I think that's the most beautiful part of sport, all these different people coming together to achieve something great.

“People will say I do crazy things on the football field or whatever they think of me, but at the end of the day, I'm just like anybody else and I think that's the coolest thing about connecting with fans, at the end of the day, I'm just like them.”