Aivi Belinda Kerstin Luik (born 18 March 1985) is an Australian soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Swedish club BK Häcken FF. She represented the Australia national team, making over 30 appearances.[2]
 Luik with Brisbane Roar in 2009 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Aivi Belinda Kerstin Luik[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 18 March 1985 | ||
| Place of birth | Perth, Australia | ||
| Height | 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | BK Häcken FF | ||
| Number | 3 | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2003–2004 | Brescia University | ||
| 2005–2006 | Nevada Wolf Pack | 42 | (9) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2005–2009 | F.C. Indiana | 84 | (11) |
| 2009–2012 | Brisbane Roar | 29 | (1) |
| 2010 | Ottawa Fury | ||
| 2011–2012 | Brøndby IF | ||
| 2012–2014 | Perth Glory | 10 | (2) |
| 2015 | Fylkir | 8 | (3) |
| 2015–2020 | Melbourne City | 49 | (6) |
| 2016–2017 | Notts County | 14 | (0) |
| 2017 | Vålerenga | 21 | (3) |
| 2018 | Kalmar | 9 | (1) |
| 2018–2019 | Levante | 26 | (0) |
| 2019 | Avaldsnes | 11 | (0) |
| 2019–2020 | Melbourne City | 12 | (1) |
| 2020–2021 | Sevilla | 30 | (0) |
| 2021–2022 | Pomigliano | 14 | (1) |
| 2022– | BK Häcken | 9 | (1) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2010– | Australia | 42 | (1) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22 March 2023 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 07 April 2023 | |||
She previously played for Brisbane Roar and Perth Glory in the W-League, Brøndby IF in Denmark's Elitedivisionen, Fylkir in Iceland's Úrvalsdeild kvenna, Notts County F.C. in England's FA WSL, Vålerenga in Norway and for Spanish Primera División club Sevilla FC.
Early life and collegiate career
Luik was born in Perth to Estonian and Swedish parents and moved to the Gold Coast at a young age where she played junior football for Palm Beach and attended Elanora State High School.[3][4] Following high school graduation, she enrolled at Brescia University in Kentucky before transferring to the University of Nevada, Reno where she was a two-year starter for the Nevada Wolf Pack from 2005 to 2006.[4] During her senior year, she captained the squad and scored the game-winning penalty kick to win the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) and lift the NCAA College Cup for the first time.[5][4]
Luik ended her collegiate career at Nevada having made 41 starts in 42 games. She scored nine goals, served seven assists for 25 points. As of 2010[update], she ranked second in the history of the team for game-winning goals and seventh for goals scored.[4] She earned All-WAC second team honors in 2005 and was named Nevada's most valuable player in 2006.[4]
Luik played for FC Indiana and Ottawa Fury in the USL W-League.[6][4]
Club career
Brisbane Roar, 2009–2011
In 2009, Luik joined Brisbane Roar in the Australian W-League.[5] During the 2009 season, she started in all eleven games for Brisbane.[7] Brisbane finished in third place and advanced to the semi-finals where they defeated Central Coast Mariners 1–0.[8] Brisbane lost the 2009 W-League Grand Final to Sydney FC.[9]
Brøndby IF, 2011–12
Luik moved to Europe where she played for Brøndby IF in Denmark's Elitedivisionen during the 2011–12 season. Brøndby finished in first place with a 17–0–1 record.[7]
Melbourne City FC, 2015–2020
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In 2015, Luik joined Melbourne City FC for their inaugural season in the W-League.[10][11] During a match against the Melbourne Victory, she converted a free-kick to score the game-winning goal.[12] City won all 12 of its regular season games and finished in first place during the regular season with Luik starting in the midfielder in all games.[7] After advancing to the semi-finals, Melbourne City won the 2016 W-League Grand Final.[13] She was named W-League Player of the Year by the club.[11]
After re-signing with Melbourne City for the 2016–17 season, Luik started in the midfield in 13 of the 14 matches she played, including the semifinal and Grand Final. Melbourne finished in fourth place during the regular season with a 6–4–2 record and advanced to the semi-finals.[14][15] After defeating Brisbane Roar in penalty kicks,[16] Melbourne City advanced and won the 2017 W-League Grand Final for the second consecutive year.[17]
Notts County, 2016
In March 2016, Luik signed with English side Notts County F.C. on a two-year deal.[18][19] During the 2016 FA WSL season, she made 14 appearances including 9 starts.[7] Notts County finished in sixth place with a 4–8–4 record.[7]
Pomigliano
In August 2021 Luik signed for newly-promoted Italian Serie A club Pomigliano.[20]
International career
Luik made her debut for the Australian national team in February 2010 in a friendly match against New Zealand. A year later she was part of the squad for the 2010 AFC Women's Asian Cup, which Australia won. In the summer of 2021, she was part of Australia's squad for the delayed 2020 Olympics and made three appearances during the tournament. Shortly after the Olympic Games, in August 2021, she announced her retirement from the national team, having made over 30 appearances.[21] Five months later, Luik returned from retirement and was named in Australia's 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup squad.[22]
Luik was selected for the Australian Matildas football team which qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. The Matildas advanced to the quarter-finals with one victory and a draw in the group play. In the quarter-finals they beat Great Britain 4-3 after extra time. However, they lost 1–0 to Sweden in the semi-final and were then beaten 4–3 in the bronze medal playoff by USA.[23]
Luik missed Australia's second match of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup due to concussion.[24]
See also
International goals
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 21 January 2022 | Mumbai Football Arena, Mumbai, India |  Indonesia | 17–0 | 18–0 | 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup |
Honours
Brisbane Roar
Brøndby IF
- Elitedivisionen: 2011–12[7]
Melbourne City
Vålerenga
- Norwegian Women's Cup: 2017[7]
Australia
Further reading
- Grainey, Timothy (2012), Beyond Bend It Like Beckham: The Global Phenomenon of Women's Soccer, University of Nebraska Press, ISBN 0803240368
- Williams, Jean (2007), "A Beautiful Game: International Perspectives on Women's Football", A&C Black, ISBN 1845206754
References
External links
- Aivi Luik – FIFA competition record (archived)
- Aivi Luik – UEFA competition record (archive)
- Melbourne City FC player profile Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine
- Perth Glory profile Archived 2 January 2013 at the Wayback Machine
- Aivi Luik at Soccerway
- Aivi Luik at Olympics.com
- Aivi Luik at Olympedia
