Matildas icon Tameka Yallop has brought her decorated Brisbane Roar career to a close, confirming she will join Wellington Phoenix for the 2026-27 A-League Women's season as she relocates to New Zealand to be closer to her young family. In a landmark tribute, the Roar will retire her No.13 jersey — making her the first player across both the men's and women's programs to receive that honour.

A Roar Legend Moves On

Yallop, 35, finishes as Brisbane's all-time leading goalscorer with 74 goals and their most capped player, having pulled on the orange jersey 179 times across multiple stints at the club. She also earned 134 international appearances for the Matildas, establishing herself as one of the most decorated players in Australian football history.

Her career has spanned the globe — taking her through competitions in the United States, Germany, Japan, Sweden and Norway — before returning repeatedly to the club she calls home. Along the way, she won three premierships with the Roar.

Despite the move, Yallop was emphatic that her connection to Brisbane remains unbroken.

"I'm not saying goodbye to Brisbane as Roar will always be my home. The orange jersey is heavily immersed in my football journey and it will forever be a part of me," she said.

"I am Roar's number one fan and will forever be cheering on the girls and anyone who puts on that jersey. We have so many amazing young players coming through, I'm excited to follow their football journey and will, of course, be a source of support whenever I'm needed."

Family the Driving Force Behind the Switch

The move to New Zealand is deeply personal. Yallop is married to former New Zealand international Kirsty Yallop, who had an eight-game stint with the Roar during the 2015-16 season, and the couple share two daughters. Relocating to Wellington puts the family under one roof and removes the strain of distance that comes with a professional football career.

Despite the transition, Yallop has made clear she has no intention of stepping back from the international stage. It is understood she remains focused on keeping herself in contention for the Matildas' 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup campaign. That ambition was confirmed earlier this year, even after she was ruled out of the Asian Cup following a hamstring injury that required surgery. With the FIFA World Cup cycle now firmly in view, Yallop appears determined to be part of it.

Brisbane Roar Enter a New Era

Yallop's departure coincides with a broader period of change at Brisbane. The club has also confirmed a new head coach following the exit of Alex Smith, who left for Major League Soccer club Brooklyn FC.

His replacement is Johnathan Clemente, a former Melbourne Victory assistant who, at just 27, becomes the youngest head coach in A-League history. Clemente's rise has been rapid — he first stepped into senior coaching at 19, guiding the then-relegated Essendon Royals back into Victoria's top competition in his debut season, before taking the reins at Heidelberg United in the National Premier League at 20. From that squad, he developed 10 players into ALW squad members.

The challenge ahead is a youthful one. The Roar's 2025-26 squad — which fell to the Phoenix in a 3-2 aggregate semi-final — carries an average age of just 23. But Clemente sees that as an opportunity rather than a hurdle.

"I see exciting parallels between Brisbane Roar and my own journey. We've been hungry, ambitious and have spent the past few years building strong foundations," he said. "Now it's our time to come together and establish ourselves at the pinnacle of women's football in this country."

His stated priority mirrors Smith's: back local talent and give them the platform to become the next generation of Matildas.

For now, though, it is Yallop's legacy that takes centre stage — a jersey number retired, a record-breaking career honoured, and a footballer who insists the orange runs too deep for any farewell to be final.