Erin McLeod is a Canadian football player who has made a name for herself as a goalkeeper for the Canada national women’s team and the goalie of Orlando Pride in the NWSL. Following her college career, she started her professional football career in 2004 when she was only 21 years old. Since then, she has gone on to play for several clubs around the world, registering her name as one of the best in the business.
With a remarkable professional life, her personal life was not so much flawless as she was previously married to fellow football star Ella Masar before the union ended in divorce.
Biography of Erin McLeod
Erin Katrina McLeod was born on February 26, 1983, in St. Albert, Alberta, Canada to her parents, Doug McLeod who worked as an oil field engineer, and her mother, Cheryl McLeod. Because of this, she spent some parts of her life in different parts of the world including Indonesia where her father once worked.
She was raised for a while in Alberta until she was 5 years old and then she moved to Calgary. While there, she fell in love with football, and one day when the goalkeeper of the Calgary team was injured, she volunteered to keep. Everything seemed natural for her from that day, she became hooked.
Her family later moved to Indonesia where she continued to play with the boy’s team. Her family was there during the May 1998 riots in the country, but because of the danger, they were forced to leave before later returning.
As regards her footballing career, Erin was signed by Vancouver Whitecaps in 2004 after she had her college career with SMU Mustangs and Penn State Nittany Lions. In 2009, she moved to Washington Freedom and then Dalsjöfors GoIF. She moved on to play for the following clubs:
- Chicago Red Stars (2013)
- Houston Dash (2014–2015)
- FC Rosengård (2016–2017)
- FF USV Jena (2018)
- SC Sand (2018)
- Växjö DFF (2019)
She is currently playing for Orlando Pride having signed for the club in 2020. She is, however, on loan to Stjarnan.
Her Love Life With Ella Masar, Their Marriage, And Divorce
In 2013, the paths of Erin and Ella Masar who is also a football star crossed for the first time. Although Ella was only just accepting that she was gay, Erin had been gay for a long time, although she came out in 2014. They met while they were both playing for the Chicago Red Stars.
The two dated for a while and then on July 6, 2015, after the World Cup in Canada, the two got married. While many congratulated them when they made it known on social media, there were many that also trolled them. They hosted The Ella and Erin Show when they were still with Red Stars.
Unfortunately, they went through a separation in 2019, followed by a divorce. According to them, the reason behind the divorce was that they both put their careers ahead of their relationship and so their marriage paid the ultimate price.
Erin McLeod is Now Dating Her Girlfriend, Gunny Jonsdottir
After her failed marriage, Erin has since started another relationship with fellow football player, Gunny Jonsdottir. Born in 1988, Gunny is an Icelandic footballer who also plays for Orlando Pride as a midfielder.
The couple seems to be very much in love as they continue to share pictures of each other on their social media. On Valentine’s Day in 2021, Gunny gifted her lover a Volkswagen car.
On her part, Ella Masar has also moved on and started a relationship with her partner, Babett Peter. The two now share a son.
All The Interesting facts About Her
1. Erin was not raised as an only child
The legendary goalkeeper was brought up together with an older sister Megan and a younger sister Cara.
2. Her family hired a nutritionist for her
While she was growing up, Erin was bigger than other kids her age and so when she went to high school, she hardly ate because she was not comfortable with her body. She was so big that she hardly found clothes that fit her when she went shopping.
As a result of that, she almost stopped eating completely and took to work out. When she got hungry, rather than eating, she would go for a workout. This worried her mum and so she found a nutritionist who could help out.
3. She is also an artist
A lot of people only know Erin as a footballer, but more than that, she is also an artist. She produces works of art and sells them online. What is more fascinating is that both Erin and her sister Cara are artists.
4.. She did not start early because she moved to Southeast Asia
Before her family moved to Indonesia, Erin was great at football. However, before long in Southeast Asia where she continued to play with boys, she was soon forced to stop because she was considered to be old for that. This affected her progress as a footballer and when she returned to Canada she found out that she was left behind.
To get back, she moved in with her grandmother in Calgary where she was able to pick up from where she left.
5. Erin’s religion is agnostic
As regards her religion, the former wife of Erin reveals that she is agnostic. Nonetheless, she is said to always read a few pages of Buddha each day that she wakes up and then reflect on mistakes she has made, and read some more quotes before going to bed.
6. She has an embarrassing tattoo
After Erin McLeod helped Canada to win Silver at the 2002 Under-20 Women’s World Cup, she had a Canada Maple Leaf tattooed on her buttocks. She would go on to describe the decision to have the tattoo as well as the tattoo as rather embarrassing.
7 A look at her educational achievements
After high school, Erin moved to Southern Methodist University where she also played football before she transferred to Pennsylvania State University when she heard the college was looking for a goalkeeper.
8. The net worth of Erin McLeod is put at $1 million
One of the best in the business, Erin has a net worth that is estimated at $1 million. Although the money she makes directly from football has contributed to her fortune, she has various endorsement deals and businesses that have also contributed to her net worth.
The footballer has endorsement and sponsorship deals with Destination Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram, PUMA, and Aviata Sports among others.
See Also: Christine Sinclair Is World’s Leading Goal Scorer- Bio, Career, Net Worth, Husband
9. No, she is not the tallest goalie
It is clear that Erin McLeod has a good height, standing at 5 feet 8 inches tall. However, for a goalkeeper, she is not imposing. However, she is able to make up for that with her fearlessness thanks to which she was sometimes put in to keep for men when she was in the university.
10. She has recorded many achievements
Erin McLeod is considered to be one of the best in the football business and she has many achievements to her name to show as an individual and also for her clubs and country. The following are some of her achievements:
- W-League with Vancouver Whitecaps (2004, 2006)
- Olympic bronze medal (2012)
- International Tournament of São Paulo (2010)
- Cyprus Cup (2008, 2010, 2011)
- Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year (2005)
- M.A.C. Hermann Trophy semi-finalist (2005)
- Canadian Soccer Association’s All-Time Canada XI (2012)
- Olympic Gold Medal Tokyo 2020 (2021)
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