Claire Emslie (born 8 March 1994) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a forward for Angel City FC in the American National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and the Scotland national team.[2]

Claire Emslie
Emslie playing for Everton in 2021
Personal information
Full name Claire Emslie[1]
Date of birth (1994-03-08) 8 March 1994 (age 30)
Place of birth Edinburgh, Scotland
Height 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)[2]
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
Angel City
Number 10
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2015 Florida Atlantic Owls 76 (29)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2013 Hibernian 35 (18)
2016–2017 Bristol City 20 (11)
2017–2019 Manchester City 31 (8)
2019–2020 Orlando Pride 11 (0)
2019–2020Melbourne City (loan) 12 (5)
2020Everton (loan) 7 (2)
2020–2022 Everton 30 (3)
2022– Angel City 55 (13)
International career
2008–2009 Scotland U15 2 (0)
2009–2011 Scotland U17 15 (3)
2010–2013 Scotland U19 16 (6)
2013– Scotland 66 (16)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 2 November 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 16 July 2024 (UTC)

Emslie made her senior international debut for Scotland in 2013. At the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup, she scored Scotland's first ever goal in the competition, becoming the first woman to score in a World Cup for Scotland.

She previously played professionally for Hibernian, Bristol City, Manchester City, Orlando Pride, Melbourne City, and Everton.

College career

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Between 2012 and 2015, Emslie attended Florida Atlantic University and played for the Florida Atlantic Owls.[3][4] She ended her college career with 29 goals and 10 assists in four seasons.[5] Emslie majored in exercise physiology.

Club career

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Hibernian, 2011–13

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Emslie began her senior career in 2011 with Scottish Women's Premier League team Hibernian, making her debut in a league game against Falkirk on 24 April.[2] In total, Emslie made thirty-five appearances and scored eighteen times in three seasons with Hibernian, winning the Scottish League Cup in her debut year.[2]

Bristol City, 2016–17

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On 16 June 2016, Emslie returned to the UK and joined FA WSL 2 side Bristol City.[6] She went on to score ten goals in twelve matches for Bristol, leading her team to promotion into the FA WSL.[7] She signed a new contract with Bristol in February 2017.[7]

Manchester City, 2017–19

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On 1 July 2017, following the end of the shortened FA WSL Spring Series, Emslie joined Manchester City.[8] She scored her first goal for the team in an FA WSL Cup group stage win over Oxford United on 2 November 2017.[2][9] She won a domestic cup double with City during the 2018–19 season, lifting both the League Cup and FA Cup.

Orlando Pride, 2019–20

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On 30 May 2019, Emslie agreed a move to Orlando Pride of the National Women's Soccer League,[10] joining the team after Scotland's involvement at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup[11] which ended on 19 June with a dramatic 3–3 draw against Argentina in the group stage.[12] She was the only one of the Prides' nine players at the World Cup to not progress to the knockout round.[13] She made her debut for the team on 20 July 2019, coming on as a substitute for Rachel Hill in a 1–0 win over Sky Blue FC.[2]

Loan to Melbourne City, 2019–20

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Emslie was loaned to Australian club Melbourne City in November 2019 following the end of the 2019 NWSL season.[14][15] Emslie scored four regular-season goals as Melbourne successfully defended their Premiership title and beat Sydney FC in the 2020 Grand Final in February 2020.[16][17]

 
Emslie in 2023 with Angel City FC.

Everton, 2020–22

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With the 2020 NWSL season suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic,[18] and Orlando withdrawing from the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup after positive COVID-19 tests among players and staff,[19] Emslie joined FA WSL club Everton on loan in August 2020, ahead of the 2020–21 season.[20] She made the move permanent on 31 December 2020, signing an 18-month contract with Everton.[21]

Angel City FC, 2022–

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Angel City FC acquired the rights to sign Emslie in the 2022 NWSL Expansion Draft in December 2021,[22] and then officially signed with her on 7 July 2022.[23] During the club's inaugural season, Emslie competed in 10 matches recording 784 minutes on the pitch and scoring three goals.[2] During her debut on 9 July, she scored the game-winning goal against the San Diego Wave.[24] On 28 August, she scored Angel City's third goal in a 3-1 win against Gotham FC.[25] The club finished their first season in eighth place with a 8–9–5 record.[26]

During the 2023 season, Emslie started in 17 of the 20 games she played and scored three goals.[2] She scored the game-opener during the club's 2-1 win against Orlando Pride on 2 April.[27] On 7 May, she scored a goal and provided an assist during Angel City's 3-2 win against Kansas City Current.[28] She scored Angel City's lone goal, an olympico, in a 4-1 loss to Seattle Reign FC on 27 May.[29] Angel City finished in fifth place during the regular season and advanced to the playoffs for the first time[30] where they were eliminated by Seattle in the quarter final match.[31] At the end of the 2023 season, Emslie was Angel City's second highest all-time goal scorer with 7 goals in all appearances.[32]

Emslie scored Angel City's first goal of the 2024 season, a penalty kick against her former club Orlando Pride on 22 March 2024, which ended as a 1-1 draw.[33] On 21 April 2024, Emslie recorded her first brace for Angel City in a 2-1 victory against North Carolina Courage to secure Angel City's first home win of the season.[34] On 18 August 2024, after scoring a brace in a friendly match against FC Juárez, Emslie overtook Savannah McCaskill as the all-time goal scoring leader for Angel City with 16 goals across all competitions.[35] Emslie made her 50th regular-season appearance for Angel City on September 23, 2024, and scored the equalizing goal to secure a 2-2 draw against Portland Thorns FC.[36]

International career

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Emslie has represented Scotland internationally on the senior national team as well as the under-19 and under-17 national teams.[2][6] She scored goals in consecutive UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship tournaments in 2012 and 2013 respectively.[2]

In June 2013, Emslie made her senior debut against Iceland in an international friendly.[37] After it became clear that she would be based in the United States for a long period, Emslie was not considered for international selection until her studies in Florida concluded and she moved to England.[4] Her second cap came in a friendly against Denmark in January 2017.[4][38]

In August 2017, She was named to the national team when new manager Shelley Kerr called her up for a friendly against Hungary.[39] Emslie subsequently scored her first senior international goal against Hungary in a 3–0 win at the Telki Training Centre in Pest County.[40][41]

2019 FIFA Women's World Cup

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Kerr selected Emslie to represent Scotland at the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France, the first time the nation had ever qualified for the tournament.[42] Emslie scored Scotland's first-ever World Cup goal on 9 June 2019 in a group stage defeat to England.[2][43]

Emslie earned her 50th cap for Scotland during the 2023 Pinatar Cup in Spain during the final match of the tournament against Wales on 21 February 2023.[44]

Personal life

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Emslie was born in Edinburgh to parents Neil and Anna[3] before being raised in Penicuik.[4] She counts former Hibernian teammate Caroline Weir and Bristol teammate Chloe Arthur among her close friends, both of whom also play for Scotland.[4]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of 1 November 2024.[2][45]
Club statistics
Club Season League Cup League Cup Continental[a] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Hibernian 2011 Premier League 16 3 0 0 2 0 18 3
2012 10 8 0 0 1 0 11 8
2013 9 7 0 0 1 0 10 7
Total 35 18 0 0 4 0 39 18
Bristol City 2016 FA WSL 2 12 10 0 0 1 0 13 10
2017 FA WSL 1 8 1 0 0 0 0 8 1
Total 20 11 0 0 1 0 21 11
Manchester City 2017–18 FA WSL 17 4 3 1 7 3 8 1 35 9
2018–19 14 4 4 0 7 2 1 0 26 6
Total 31 8 7 1 14 5 9 1 61 12
Orlando Pride 2019 NWSL 11 0 11 0
Melbourne City (loan) 2019–20 W-League 10 4 2[b] 1 12 5
Everton (loan) 2020–21 FA WSL 19 3 1 0 20 3
Everton 2021–22 18 2 1 0 19 2
Total 37 5 2 0 39 5
Angel City FC 2022 NWSL 10 3 10 3
2023 19 3 5 1 1[c] 0 25 4
2024 26 7 3 1 29 8
Total 55 13 8 2 1 0 64 15
Career total 199 59 15 3 24 6 9 1 247 69
  1. ^ Includes UEFA Women's Champions League
  2. ^ Appearance(s) in the W-League Finals series
  3. ^ Includes NWSL Playoffs

International

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As of the match played on 16 July 2024[2][46]
National team Year Apps Goals
Scotland 2013 1 0
2017 4 2
2018 10 1
2019 11 3
2020 4 1
2021 8 2
2022 10 2
2023 10 1
2024 8 4
Total 66 16
Scores and results list Scotland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Emslie goal.
List of international goals scored by Claire Emslie
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
1 14 September 2017 Telki Training Centre, Telki   Hungary 2–0 3–0 Friendly [40][41]
2 24 October 2017 St Mirren Park, Paisley   Albania 4–0 5–0 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification [47]
3 10 April 2018 St Mirren Park, Paisley   Poland 2–0 3–0 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification [48]
4 9 June 2019 Allianz Riviera, Nice   England 1–2 1–2 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup [2]
5 30 August 2019 Easter Road, Edinburgh   Cyprus 1–0 8–0 UEFA Women's Euro 2021 qualification [2]
6 8 November 2019 Elbasan Arena, Elbasan   Albania 1–0 5–0 UEFA Women's Euro 2021 qualification [2]
7 4 March 2020 Pinatar Arena, San Pedro del Pinatar   Ukraine 3–0 3–0 2020 Pinatar Cup [2]
8 19 February 2021 AEK Arena, Larnaca   Cyprus 7–0 10–0 UEFA Women's Euro 2021 qualification [2]
9 21 September 2021 Hampden Park, Glasgow   Faroe Islands 7–1 7–1 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification [2]
10 2 September 2022 MAC³PARK Stadion, Zwolle   Netherlands 1–1 1–2 Friendly [2]
11 14 November 2022 Estadio Municipal Los Arcos, Orihuela   Venezuela 2–0 2–1 Friendly [2]
12 11 April 2023 Hampden Park, Glasgow   Costa Rica 2–0 4–0 Friendly [2]
13 31 May 2024 Hampden Park, Glasgow   Israel 1–0 4–1 UEFA Women's Euro 2025 qualification [2]
14 3–0
15 12 July 2024 Štadión pod Zoborom, Nitra   Slovakia 1–0 2–0 UEFA Women's Euro 2025 qualification [2]
16 2–0

Honours

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Hibernian[2]

Manchester City[2]

Melbourne City[2]

References

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  1. ^ "FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019 – List of Players: Scotland" (PDF). FIFA. 27 May 2019. p. 19. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 May 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa "Claire Emslie profile". Soccerway. 4 May 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  3. ^ a b "Claire Emslie profile". FAU Sports. 4 May 2017. Archived from the original on 25 September 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Claire Emslie: Scotland winger targets World Cup after missing Euro 2017". BBC Sport. 13 March 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  5. ^ "FAU women's soccer archives". FAUSPORTS.COM. Archived from the original on 24 September 2017. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  6. ^ a b "BCWFC announce new signing Claire Emslie". Bristol City W.F.C. 16 June 2016. Archived from the original on 25 September 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  7. ^ a b "Bristol City Women: Chloe Arthur and Claire Emslie extend deals". BBC Sport. 8 February 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  8. ^ "Man City Women to sign Claire Emslie". Manchester City W.F.C. 30 June 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  9. ^ "Report: Oxford 0–6 City". Manchester City W.F.C. 2 November 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  10. ^ "Claire Emslie leaves City". Manchester City. 30 May 2019. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  11. ^ "Orlando Pride Sign Scotland Women's National Team Forward Claire Emslie". Orlando Pride. 30 May 2019. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
  12. ^ "FIFA Women's World Cup France 2019™ - Matches - Scotland - Argentina". www.fifa.com. Archived from the original on 7 June 2019.
  13. ^ "Pride Players at 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup". www.orlandocitysc.com.
  14. ^ "Melbourne City FC signs Scottish attacker Claire Emslie". Melbourne City FC. 4 November 2019.
  15. ^ Sutherland, Jonathan (4 November 2019). "Claire Emslie: Scotland forward joins Melbourne City on loan from Orlando Pride". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  16. ^ "W-League review: Melbourne City crowned Premiers, Western Sydney woes". ESPN.com. 23 February 2020.
  17. ^ "Catley strike seals Melbourne City's record fourth Westfield W-League Championship". Westfield W-League. 21 March 2020. Archived from the original on 21 March 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  18. ^ "NWSL, CPL delay start of 2020 seasons due to Covid-19". SportBusiness. 21 March 2020.
  19. ^ "Orlando Pride Statement Regarding 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup Participation". www.orlandocitysc.com.
  20. ^ "Everton Complete Emslie Loan Capture". www.evertonfc.com.
  21. ^ "Everton Women: Claire Emslie agrees permanent move from Orlando Pride". BBC Sport. 31 December 2020. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  22. ^ Daniel Pentland (17 December 2021). "Everton forward Emslie named by Angel City in NWSL Expansion Draft". fawslfulltime.co.uk. FAWSL Full-Time. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  23. ^ "Angel City Officially Signs 2022 Expansion Draft Pick Claire Emslie". angelcity.com. Angel City FC. 7 July 2022. Archived from the original on 7 July 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  24. ^ "New acquisition Claire Emslie scores winning goal for Angel City". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  25. ^ "Claire Emslie Goal: NJ/NY Gotham FC vs Angel City Highlights". National Women's Soccer League. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  26. ^ "2022 Angel City FC". Soccerway. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  27. ^ "Claire Emslie scores for Angel City in draw with Orlando Pride". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  28. ^ Rantz, Susie. "Angel City hangs on for 3-2 win over Kansas City". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  29. ^ "Angel City scores early but can't hold back OL Reign in loss". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  30. ^ "Angel City FC season preview: Aiming to become contenders". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  31. ^ "Reign edge Angel City in NWSL quarterfinals as Rose Lavelle returns in Megan Rapinoe's final home game". The Athletic. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  32. ^ "Angel City FC Stats, All Competitions". FBref.com. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  33. ^ "Claire Emslie scores for Angel City in draw with Orlando Pride". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. 23 March 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  34. ^ "Claire Emslie bags brace, three points at home: Angel City FC 2, NC Courage 1 - Angels on Parade". angelsonparade.com. 22 April 2024. Retrieved 22 April 2024.
  35. ^ "Angel City FC Stats, Records and History". FBref.com. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  36. ^ "Claire Emslie's equalizer helps Angel City salvage a draw with Portland". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. 24 September 2024. Retrieved 26 September 2024.
  37. ^ "Claire Emslie profile". Scottish FA. 4 May 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  38. ^ "International friendly: Denmark Women 2–2 Scotland Women". BBC Sport. 20 January 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  39. ^ "Shelley Kerr names first SWNT squad". Scottish Football Association. 23 August 2017. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  40. ^ a b "Kerr begins reign with resounding victory". Scottish Football Association. 14 September 2017. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
  41. ^ a b "Hungary Women 0–3 Scotland Women: Kerr kicks off reign with win in friendly". BBC Sport. 14 September 2017. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
  42. ^ "Women's World Cup: Shelley Kerr names Scotland squad for finals". BBC Sport. 15 May 2019. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
  43. ^ "Scoring Scotland's first World Cup goal a dream for Claire Emslie". The Scotsman. 10 June 2019. Retrieved 11 June 2019.
  44. ^ "Honours-even between Scotland and Wales in the Pinatar Cup | Scotland | News". www.scottishfa.co.uk. Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  45. ^ "Manchester City W.F.C. fixtures". Manchester City W.F.C. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  46. ^ Claire Emslie at the Scottish Football Association
  47. ^ "Five star Scotland rampant in victory". Scottish Football Association. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
  48. ^ "Match Details". Scottish Football Association. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
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