Sonia O'Neill

Sonia was born for the opportunity to play professional football on a Canadian pitch. Raised by a Canadian/Irish father and a Venezuelan mother, soccer was in her blood at birth as was her dream to play professionally.

When she was three, she always had a ball and told her parents she wanted to play soccer professionally because she loved the game.

Sonia first realized her dream of playing professional soccer in northern Europe, signing with the Swedish Elitettan club Husqvarna FF, where she scored two goals in her opening match. This began a football journey through Europe that took her to play with Roma CF in the Italian Serie B, and Pink Bari in Serie A before heading to Croatia to suit up with ZNK Split where she became the first Venezuelan player to score in the Women’s Champions League. Her playing career has also made stops in France, Germany, Scotland, and London.

A holder of three passports, Sonia was eligible to play for Canada, Venezuela and Italy at the international level. In 2019, she got the call from the Venezuelan National Team, and went on to play the most minutes for the for the team in 2021.

She is sure to play a leadership role off the pitch in support of the Calgary Wild FC’s mission in joining the first women’s professional soccer league in Canada – Northern Super League. She enjoys spending time introducing kids to the sport of soccer, mentoring and training them, and finds motivatation by watching their confidence grow as they develop while helping local clubs.

But her true focus is to inspire young girls. The mother to a young daughter, she wants to be part of a club that not only wants to win the league and make history, but genuinely wants to help female football grow through providing more opportunities to youth in Canada

Did You Know…Sonia’s role model is her youth soccer coach Junior Groves because he helps youth use football as a tool for life, helping youth not only enjoy the game but trying to help them stay out of trouble, teach discipline, and help them go to university or even professional. 

Favourite quote: “Bet on yourself.”