Aivi Luik

Aivi Belinda Kerstin Luik (born 18 March 1985) is an Australian soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Melbourne City in the Australian W-League and the Australia women's national team.[1] 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, and Vålerenga in Norway.

Aivi Luik
Luik playing for Brisbane Roar in 2009
Personal information
Full name Aivi Belinda Kerstin Luik
Date of birth (1985-03-18) 18 March 1985
Place of birth Perth, Australia
Height 166 cm (5 ft 5 in)
Playing position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Melbourne City
Number 6
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)
2015–2018 Melbourne City 37 (5)
2016–2017 Notts County 14 (0)
2017 Vålerenga 21 (3)
2018 Kalmar 9 (1)
2018–2019 Levante 26 (0)
2019 Avaldsnes 11 (0)
2019– Melbourne City 12 (1)
National team‡
2010– Australia 25 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23 February 2020
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 11 March 2020

Early life and collegiate career

Born in Australia to Hungarian and Swedish parents, Luik attended 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 2005-06.[2] 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.[3][2]

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, she ranked second in the history of the team for game-winning goals and seventh for goals scored.[2] She earned All-WAC second team honors in 2005 and was named Nevada's most valuable player in 2006.[2]

Luik played for FC Indiana and Ottawa Fury in the USL W-League.[4][2]

Club career

Brisbane Roar, 2009-2011

In 2009, Luik joined Brisbane Roar in the Australian W-League.[3] During the 2009 season, she started in all eleven games for Brisbane.[5] Brisbane finished in third place and advanced to the semi-finals where they defeated Central Coast Mariners 1–0.[6] Brisbane lost the 2009 W-League Grand Final to Sydney FC.[7]

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.[5]

Melbourne City FC, 2015–present
Luik during a match against Brisbane Roar, December 2015

In 2015, Luik joined Melbourne City FC for their inaugural season in the W-League.[8] During a match against the Melbourne Victory, she converted a free-kick to score the game-winning goal.[9] 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.[5] After advancing to the semi-finals, Melbourne City won the 2016 W-League Grand Final.[10] She was named W-League Player of the Year by the club.[8]

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.[11][12] After defeating Brisbane Roar in penalty kicks,[13] Melbourne City advanced and won the 2017 W-League Grand Final for the second consecutive year.[14]

Notts County, 2016

In March 2016, Luik signed with English side Notts County F.C. on a two-year deal.[15][16] During the 2016 FA WSL season, she made 14 appearances including 9 starts.[5] Notts County finished in sixth place with a 4–8–4 record.[5]

Honours
With Australia
with Brisbane Roar
  • W-League Championship: 2010-11[5]
with Brøndby IF
  • Elitedivisionen winner: 2011-12[5]
with Melbourne City
  • W-League Championship: 2015-16, 2016–17, 2017-18[5]
with Vålerenga

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
  1. "The road to the World Cup – Aivi Luik". Football Federation Australia. 22 May 2011. Archived from the original on 19 December 2017. Retrieved 8 November 2015 – via Sportstar.com.
  2. "Former Soccer Star Aivi Luik Wins Asian Cup with Australia, Qualifies for the World Cup". University of Nevada. 4 June 2010. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  3. "Focus only on Jets, says Luik". Brisbane Roar. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  4. "Cosmopolitan Luik helps Naftokhimik bid". UEFA. 7 October 2008. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
  5. Aivi Luik at Soccerway. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  6. "Roar through to Westfield W-League decider". Brisbane Roar. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  7. Smith, Peter. "Sydney FC claim W-League crown". Daily Telegraph. Sydney: News Corp Australia. AAP. Retrieved 2 December 2017.
  8. "City re-signs Fishlock and Luik, signs American defender Barnes". Melbourne City. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  9. "City too strong for Victory in maiden Derby". Melbourne Victory. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  10. "Melbourne City complete dominant W-League season with grand final win over Sydney FC". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 31 January 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  11. Melbourne City FC (9 February 2017), Westfield W League | Aivi Luik Previews Sunday's Grand Final, retrieved 3 December 2017
  12. "Grand final veteran Aivi Luik is ready to claim a piece of W-League history". The Women's Game. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  13. "Melbourne City, Sydney FC advance to W-League final". The Equalizer. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  14. "Melbourne City win back-to-back W-League titles with 2-0 defeat of Glory". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 12 February 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  15. "Rachel Yankey among three Notts County Ladies signings". BBC Sport. 18 March 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  16. Ferris, Ian (18 March 2016). "Australian international defender Luik signs for Notts County Ladies". Tribal Football. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
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