Tijan McKenna
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Tijan Sally McKenna | ||
| Date of birth | 8 September 2004 | ||
| Place of birth | Cockburn Central, Western Australia, Australia | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Vålerenga | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2021–2023 | Perth Glory FC | 15 | (0) |
| 2022 | South Melbourne | 6 | (1) |
| 2022–2023 | Heidelberg United | 21 | (2) |
| 2023–2024 | Melbourne City | 13 | (0) |
| 2024–2026 | Perth Glory | 39 | (3) |
| 2026– | Vålerenga | 0 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| Australia U16 | |||
| Australia U20 | |||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 24 March 2026 | |||
Tijan Sally McKenna (Croatian: [tijan];[1] born 8 September 2004) is an Australian soccer player who plays as a defender for Toppserien club Vålerenga IF.
Beginning her career at A-League Women club Perth Glory, McKenna played for National Premier Leagues Victoria Women (NPL Victoria Women) sides South Melbourne and Heidelberg United during the offseason. She later joined Melbourne City, before returning to Perth Glory and later moving to Toppserien club Vålerenga IF.
Born in Perth to a family of Anglo-Celtic and Croatian descent, she is eligible to represent either Australia or Croatia internationally. Initially playing for Australia at under-16 and under-20 level, she was later called up for the Croatia senior national team, though was never capped. In 2026, she stated her intention to recommit to representing the Australia senior national team.
Early life
McKenna was born on 8 September 2004 in Perth,[2]: 137 and grew up in the suburb of Cockburn Central.[3] She is of Croatian descent. Her older sister, Leticia is also a soccer player.[4] As a junior McKenna joined Cockburn City soccer club.[2]: 137 She attended John Curtin College of the Arts in Fremantle.[5] McKenna joined Football West National Training Centre (FW NTC) under-15 soccer team by February 2019 to compete in Western Australia's Premier League Reserves.[6][7]
Club career
McKenna debuted for the W-League (renamed A-League Women) team Perth Glory FC on 9 January 2021 in their 0-1 loss to Adelaide United.[2]: 137, 144 Australian news website Impetus Football wrote in 2022 that she was "another of Perth Glory's fast-rising stars" while playing for the club.[8]
During the A-League off-season (mid-2022), she was loaned to National Premier Leagues Victoria Women (NPLV) side South Melbourne FC before being loaned to another NPLV side Heidelberg United FC for rest of 2022 and all of 2023 A-League off-seasons.[2]: 137
Six months later, she signed for A-League side Melbourne City FC (rejoining her sister) and played 13 matches during their 2023–24 season.[2]: 92 Ahead of the 2024–25 season, McKenna returned to Perth Glory.[9]
On 17 July 2026, it was announced that McKenna was joining Norwegian club Vålerenga IF, reuniting with former Perth teammate Hana Lowry, who had joined a few months prior.[10][11]
International career
McKenna was an Australia youth international, before being called up to represent Croatia at senior international level. In 2019, she played for the Australia women's national under-16 soccer team at the 2019 AFC U-16 Women's Championship.[12]
In an April 2026 interview with The West Australian, McKenna announced her intention to recommit to playing for Australia in an effort to be selected for the senior national team following her sister Leticia's senior international début for Australia.[13]
References
- ↑ https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQNvSzvCXfM/?igsh=cTI5ajFnNnRwcnFm
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Ninja_A-League_2025-26_Season_Guide-1.pdf" (PDF). A-Leagues Media Centre. 31 October 2025. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 November 2025. Retrieved 12 April 2026.
- ↑ Bennett, Neil (15 February 2019). "McKenna set to crown dream season - FTBL". The Women's Game. Archived from the original on 5 April 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ Burke, Emma (26 April 2024). "The A-League double is in sight for Melbourne's McKenna sisters". impetusfootball.org. Retrieved 20 August 2025.
- ↑ "Perth Glory midfielder Tijan McKenna credits growth to time away from home". The West Australian. 6 February 2025. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
- ↑ "Junior Matildas name three West Aussies". Football West. 9 February 2019. Archived from the original on 20 March 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2026 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "National Training Centre". Football West. Archived from the original on 26 March 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2026 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "Perth Stars Continuing Their Rise At Heidelberg United". Impetus Football. 23 June 2022. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
- ↑ Tijan McKenna at Soccerway
- ↑ "Perth Glory's Player of the Year seals move to Norwegian giants". A-Leagues. 2026-07-17. Retrieved 2026-07-17.
- ↑ "Young Aussie midfielder seals exciting move overseas: Details". A-Leagues. 2026-04-16. Retrieved 2026-07-17.
- ↑ "Tijan McKenna: Finding My Feet". Beyond 90. 4 June 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
- ↑ Smith, Ben (29 April 2026). "A-League Women: Perth Glory defender Tijan McKenna eyeing Matildas caps after winning Most Glorious Player". The West Australian.
External links
- Tijan McKenna at Soccerway