Brisbane Roar Football Club can sadly confirm that Roar legend Tameka Yallop will not return for the 2026/27 Ninja A-League season, choosing to remain in New Zealand to be closer to family and as such will be joining Wellington Phoenix.
Yallop leaves as Brisbane Roar’s all-time record appearance holder and all-time leading goalscorer in the club’s women’s program, finishing on 179 matches and 74 goals.
A foundation player for the then Queensland Roar, Yallop first pulled on the orange jersey in 2008 for the club’s inaugural women’s season, aged 17. She was part of both of the club’s Championship-winning campaigns and scored in both Grand Finals, and won three Premierships. In total she spent 14 seasons at the Roar across multiple stints, competing in the United States, Germany, Japan, Sweden, Norway and England in between.
Her first stint ran for ten years from 2008 to 2018. She returned to Brisbane in 2019, and again ahead of the 2023/24 season, where she stayed for three seasons and captained the side.
The 2024/25 campaign was among the finest of her career. In Round 3 she played her 153rd match for the club, passing Clare Polkinghorne to become Brisbane Roar’s record appearance holder. She went on to become the club’s all-time women’s goalscorer, finished the regular season with 12 goals, and became the second highest goalscorer in the history of the A-League Women behind Michelle Heyman. She is also the first player in the competition’s history to score five hat-tricks.
Yallop was named the club’s Kate McShea Medallist for 2024/25 along with the Players’ Player and Golden Boot awards, won A-League Women Player of the Month three times that season, and was named in the PFA Team of the Season.
In her final campaign in 2025/26 she returned from a hamstring injury in the closing rounds as the Roar finished fourth and reached a semi-final, the club’s first finals appearance in five years. She was subsequently named the first member of the Ninja A-League Women All Stars squad to face Chelsea.
Yallop’s individual honours also include the Julie Dolan Medal as the competition’s Player of the Year in 2014 and the W-League Players’ Player of the Year award in 2012/13.
Her standing at the club was formally recognised in May, when Brisbane Roar’s Ninja A-League Women Young Player of the Year award was renamed in her honour. That standing will be extended once again with Brisbane Roar confirming they will retire the number 13 from the women’s squad in honour of Tameka’s contribution to the club. She becomes the first player, man or woman, to have their number retired by the club.
Speaking on departing, Tameka Yallop said, “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.
“I am so proud and honoured to have lifted trophies and shared the field with such incredible players and people throughout my time at the club. 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.
“The girls have not only been amazing teammates and friends, they have and will continue to be so inspirational to both of my young daughters.”
Speaking on departing, Brisbane Roar CEO Kaz Patafta said, “Tameka defines what it means to be a Brisbane Roar footballer.
“She was there for the very first match in 2008 and she kept coming back because this is home, and there is a reason our Young Player of the Year award now carries her name. Longevity, professionalism, loyalty to this club and to the game, and a standard that never drops.
“It was a privilege to have her at the club for as long we did and we are honoured to retire her number forever in thanks of her commitment to the football club. Tameka leaves with our absolute best wishes for the future and we thank here for everything she has given this club and its fans.”
