Quickfire XI with Hayley Raso

We’re used to seeing Hayley Raso zoom around the pitch with the Westfield Matildas but we cornered the speedy attacker for another rapid-fire performance.

In the first of our Quickfire XI series, we fired off a series of questions to Raso to get to know a little more about the 25-year-old Everton winger.

Raso discusses her favourite football moment, the football star she admires the most and which possession she simply cannot live without.

Check out all that and more in our quickfire chat with Raso below.

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MAT: What would you consider your best personal trait?

Raso: "I would say resilience. Whenever I have been knocked down I’ve been able to get back up and achieve whatever I put my mind to."

MAT: What would you consider your worst personal trait?

Raso: "I’m a bit of a worrier. When I don’t have things planned out I start to worry myself or if I have a decision that needs to be made, I sit on it for so long not knowing what the right thing to do is. I get worried and stressed I won’t make the right decision."

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MAT: What is your perfect idea of happiness?

Raso: "Just being with my family, feeling loved, playing soccer, becoming a paramedic, getting married, having a family, having kids….being around my friends and just having the life you dream about when you are younger. Just ticking those things off and being fulfilled."

MAT: What’s your biggest fear?

Raso: "I fear not having my family. I don’t really like to even think about it because I’m so close to them all and I can’t imagine my life without them."

MAT: What’s your most treasured possession?

Raso: "Probably my phone. But the reason that is because it has all my photos on it and I think if I lost my phone or it went into the ocean or whatever, I wouldn’t have the photos of my life and my family and friends and all the things I’ve done in my life. Those are the things you look back on and treasure and can see those moments and photos of times that made us happy."

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MAT: Which words or phrases do you overuse?

Raso: "In everyday life I’m not so sure but when I’m doing interviews I always say ‘obviously’ or ‘definitely’. When I go back and watch it I’m like ‘why do you say that after every single question?’."

MAT: If you could go back to relive one football moment what would it be and why?

Raso: "It would be my return game to the Matildas after my back injury. Running on the field, scoring that goal just brings me so much emotion. It was like ‘I finally made it and I’m finally back doing what I love’. That was one to remember for sure."

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MAT: What moment would you like to remove from your memory forever?

Raso: "That’s easy. The moment I broke my back."

MAT: Which footballer – past or present – do you most identify with?

Raso: "Homare Sawa from the Japanese national team. I’m a little bit obsessed with her. She’s just amazing, a legend of the game, she’s such a leader. When I played for Canberra United and we went over to the club’s championships, I watched her play and met her and got a photo with her. I just think she’s incredible as a player and as a person off the field as well."

MAT: What profession other than football would you like to try?

Raso: "Paramedicine obviously. I’m studying to be a paramedic so when I finish my football I will be a paramedic."

MAT: At the end of your football career, what would you like people to say about you?

Raso: "I would like them to remember me as a fearless player, someone who gives 110% every time she plays but also really important to me that I was a role model and I inspired young people, other players and young children all over the world to chase their dreams and be motivated and determined and achieve their goals."

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