Angelique Hristodoulou did not always picture a life in football but credits her path to the world game to her father.
The 18-year-old fullback is enjoying her best period of her career by starting and completing every minute of this year’s W-League season.
The former Western Sydney Wanderers player admits she would have never envisaged where she is now as she never played when she was young.
She said her love for football came from her father, former National Soccer League midfielder Eric Hristodoulou.
After watching her father coach her brother, the relationship with the round-ball grew.
“My Dad said to me I should get myself a pair of boots,” she said.
“He said he saw potential in me so he started devoting more time with me at the local park.
“Having him along the journey makes me proud.”
Hristodoulou said her father still played a crucial role in her development.
“I can’t say he can run as much as he used to,” she said.
“What he lacks in physical ability he still has in the brain.
“He still takes me up to the park and knocks the ball around with me.
“To be able to listen to him about how he sees the game is second-to-none.”
Hristodoulou’s father and Sydney coach Ante Juric were former teammates in the NSL but she said it was not something that concerned her.
“He likes to distance himself from all that,” she said.
“He is good mates with Ante but it does not have a role in my position in the team.”
The former Australian youth international said she could see herself progressing out of the right-back role as she matured into her preferred position in midfield.
“To be honest I am more of a central player,” she said.
“When I went away with the young Matildas I actually played as a holding midfielder.
“At Sydney, we have a lot of experienced players in those positions so it is good to be getting a run out wide.”
Hristodoulou’s next match is against her former club in the Sydney derby.
Feature image credit: Jaime Castaneda
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