For Isabelle Chidiac, pulling on the Red & Black for the first time represents the beginning of a new chapter in a football journey driven by family, determination and a promise she has never forgotten.
After four years developing her craft in the United States, the 22-year-old midfielder has returned home to Australia ready to take her first steps in the Ninja A-League Women competition with Western Sydney Wanderers.
Her arrival comes as the Wanderers prepare to embark on a new season under head coach Geoff Abrahams, with a refreshed playing group determined to make its mark and establish a new standard in Western Sydney.
For Chidiac, however, the motivation to succeed runs far deeper than football.
Behind every training session, every challenge and every ambition is the memory of her late father, Tony Chidiac, who passed away in 2018.
A former Sydney Roosters rugby league player and coach, Tony played an enormous role in shaping his daughter’s love of sport, instilling a competitive spirit that continues to define her approach to the game.
And while her journey has taken her from Australia to the American collegiate system and now back home to Western Sydney, one ambition has remained constant.
To one day represent the Matildas and fulfil a promise made to her father.
“People always are saying, ‘Oh, what’s your why?’ Like, what’s the thing that gets you out of the tough times?” Chidiac said.
“I lost my dad a few years ago, so it (playing for the Matildas) was a promise that we made to each other.
“Every day, I do it for him and also for that little girl.”
It is a motivation that has carried Chidiac through the challenges of pursuing a career in football, providing perspective through the difficult moments and a constant reminder of where her journey began.
Growing up, sport was a central part of family life, with countless afternoons spent outside playing alongside her father.
Those early experiences helped shape the fearless, physical approach she now brings to the midfield.
“I come from a family of girls,” Chidiac said.
“My dad used to play for the Roosters, so he was always outside with me playing footy or playing soccer. He definitely got that tomboy in me.
“If you see me going for a block or a slide on the field, it’s definitely from him.”
That competitive edge is something Chidiac now hopes to bring to the Wanderers as the Club prepares for a highly anticipated 2026/27 campaign.
Following four seasons at the University of Denver, the midfielder returns to Australia having experienced the intensity, physical demands and expectations of the American collegiate football environment.
It has been a formative period in her development, one she believes has prepared her to make an immediate contribution in the Ninja A-League Women competition.
“I feel like I’ve been pro for the past four years in the college system,” Chidiac said.
“I feel like I can bring definitely that part of the game, my athleticism and technical ability there that I learned.”
Chidiac joins a Wanderers squad that has undergone significant change ahead of the new season, with a host of new arrivals bringing fresh energy, experience and competition for places.
Alongside returning Wanderer Rhianna Pollicina and a new-look playing group, Chidiac will be looking to play her part in establishing an identity built on hard work, togetherness and a willingness to compete for one another.
For a player whose journey has already demanded considerable sacrifice, the chance to begin her professional career in Western Sydney is one she is determined to make count.
And while the dream of representing Australia remains a powerful personal ambition, Chidiac’s immediate focus is firmly on what she and her teammates can achieve together in Red & Black.
“We all have one goal in mind, and that’s to bring the trophy home.”
