Cherelle Khassal

Cherelle Khassal (born 9 January 1991) is an Irish international footballer who plays for Crystal Palace of the English FA Women's Championship. She made her debut for the Republic of Ireland women's national football team in May 2012.

Cherelle Khassal
Khassal (left) playing for Crystal Palace in 2019
Personal information
Full name Cherelle Merelle Nadia Khassal
Date of birth (1991-01-09) 9 January 1991
Place of birth England
Playing position(s) Winger / Forward
Club information
Current team
 Crystal Palace
Number 13
Youth career
Portsmouth
2006–2010 Arsenal
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010 Benfica
2010 Santa Clarita Blue Heat
2011 and 2012 Los Angeles Strikers
2012 – 2014 Wexford Youths 51 (27)
2012–2014 Brighton & Hove Albion Women 10 (5)
2014 Portsmouth 2 (0)
2014–2016 Lewes 18 (4)
2016-2019 Chichester City 45 (29)
2019- Crystal Palace 10 (1)
National team‡
2012– Republic of Ireland 27 (11)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 01:25, 20 January 2020 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 21:56, 13 January 2016 (UTC)

Club career
Khassal playing against Fulham Foundation Ladies

As a youngster Khassal travelled from Cowes on the Isle of Wight to train with Portsmouth when she was attending Cowes High School. She was scouted by Arsenal and joined The Gunners on a four-year academy contract in 2006.[1] During the spring of 2010 Khassal was attached to Irish club Benfica.[2] After moving to attend Capilano University, she played in the North American USL W-League with Santa Clarita Blue Heat and Los Angeles Strikers. She was nominated for W-League Rookie of the Season in 2010.[3]

She then moved back to Ireland and made a favorable impact at Wexford Youths during the 2011–12 Women's National League season.[4] She went on to clubs Brighton and Hove Albion, Portsmouth and Lewes.[5][6] Khassal then joined up with Chichester Ladies in the summer of 2016.

After a successful first season with Chichester, they gained promotion for the first time in their history to the Womens Premier (South). Cherelle formed a deadly partnership with Charlie Wilson-Blakley and between them 30 goals were scored.

Her second season also saw a very good goals return of 18 in all competitions despite injury's plaguing her for most of the year. The team achieved a solid mid-table finish despite being tipped to go back down. A successful FA cup run saw 'Chi' reach the Quarter final stages against Liverpool. The game was played at Oakland's park (Chichester) and saw a record attendance of just over 600 people. The Reds ran out 3-0 winners on the day but Chichester showed a lot of courage and could have gone 1-0 within the first few minutes.

International career

Khassal played for the Republic of Ireland Under-19 team in their 2010 UEFA Women's U-19 Championship Second qualifying round mini-tournament in Sweden.[2]

In May 2012 national coach Susan Ronan gave Khassal a debut senior cap in a 1–0 friendly defeat by Switzerland at Stadion Niedermatten.[7] She also appeared in Ireland's next match, a 1–0 UEFA Women's Euro 2013 qualifying defeat by Wales in Cork.

Khassal has been tipped to gain another senior call up for the European Qualifying Group stages but this has yet to materialise.

References
  1. "Cherelle Gunning for Soccer Stardom". Isle of Wight County Press. 15 June 2007. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  2. "Ronan readies her squad for U19 Elite qualifiers". Football Association of Ireland. 23 March 2010. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  3. French, Scott (29 July 2010). "Pali, Santa Clarita players up for awards". ESPN. Retrieved 26 January 2016.
  4. Farrell, Niall (13 April 2012). "Khassal enjoying life in the WNL". ExtraTime.ie. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  5. "Pompey Ladies sign international". Portsmouth FC Ladies.co.uk.
  6. "Rookettes pull off a transfer coup". Wordpress.com.
  7. "Swiss test gives valuable experience". Football Association of Ireland. 30 May 2012. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
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