Banyana Banyana midfield maestro, Linda Motlhalo, has made a switch from Djurgardens in Sweden and found a new home in Scotland with Glasgow City FC.
She has signed until 2025.
The 24 year old has joined the Swedish side in 2020, after spending a year with Beijing Phoenix. Prior to that, she was on the books of Houston Dash in the NWSL in the USA.
“I am excited to have signed with Glasgow City. I am looking forward to new experiences and new adventures here and I look to develop further. I can’t wait to get this chapter started,” said Motlhalo in a club statement.
Ross captained Glasgow City to fourteen consecutive top-tier titles, and joined the coaching staff in 2021 when she retired from playing.
Ross is also currently the assistant head coach of the women’s national team squad
The attacking midfielder has made 62 appearances for the South African Senior Women’s National team, with 16 goals to her name.
She was an integral part in securing the Sasol-sponsored Banyana Banyana’s maiden CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title in Morocco in July last year – they beat the hosts 2-1 in the final, with Motlhalo scoring some goals during the tournament.
Greece-based Janine van Wyk as well as Ode Fulutudilu who plays her football in France, used to don the colours of Glasgow City, while former JVW player Aliyaah Allie is still at the club. Motlhalo left South Africa for the USA for her first professional contract while playing for JVW.
The Scottish outfit is delighted with their new acquisition.
“I am excited to announce the signing of Linda Motlhalo here at Glasgow City. Linda arrives with a wealth of experience on her cv from her time in some of the top leagues in the world and her impressive international career with South Africa. I have no doubt a player of Linda’s experience and technical ability will enhance our already talented squad, she is an exciting attacking talent who I am very much looking forward to working with,” said interim coach Leanne Ross, on her first signing.
The 15-time Scottish champions are currently top of the table with 43 points from 15 games after 14 wins and a draw.
They have a five-point lead ahead of second-placed Celtic.
On Sunday (23 January) Glasgow City defeated Hamilton 6-0.
Motlhalo is eligible to face third-placed Rangers on Sunday (29 January) at Broadwood Stadium.
FACT FILE:
- Glasgow City Football Club is a women’s football team based in Glasgow
- They plays in SWPL 1, the top division of women’s football in Scotland and also the higher of two levels of the Scottish Women’s Premier League
- The club has competed in the UEFA Women’s Cup and UEFA Women’s Champions League
- They also have a reserve team and youth teams
- Glasgow City has won the most Premier League titles and the most Scottish Cups in Scotland since 2000
- In 2016, Glasgow City won their tenth Scottish Women’s Premier League title in a row, a Scottish record surpassing the previous record of nine achieved by the men’s teams of Celtic and Rangers
- However they lost their four-year monopoly on the domestic trophies with Hibernian L.F.C. winning the SWPL Cup and Scottish Cup
- By 2021, they had won 14 SWPL titles in a row
Club records
- Record win: 29–0 against FC Kilmarnock, May 2010
- Record defeat: 0–10 against Turbine Potsdam in the UEFA Women’s Champions League, 2 November 2011
- Most goals in all competitions: Leanne Ross, 250
- Most league goals in a season: Leanne Ross, 42 (during the 2010 season)
- Most goals in a season: Leanne Ross, 54 (during the 2010 season)
- Most goals in a game: Debbie McWhinnie, 12 against Motherwell in the Scottish Women’s Cup, February 2004
- Highest European home attendance: 1,785 against Paris Saint-Germain, 22 March 2015.
Honours
- Scottish Women’s Premier League
- Scottish Women’s Cup
- Scottish Women’s Premier League Cup
- Winners (6): 2008–09, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
- Scottish Women’s Football First Division
- Winners (1): 1998–99
By Matlhomola Morake
