Brisbane Roar defender Jessie Rasschaert has made the decision to retire from professional football following the conclusion of the Liberty A-League 2022/2023 season.
Rasschaert made her top-flight debut with Canberra United in 2019 when she was 32 and joined the Roar for the Liberty A-League 2021/2022 season after spending two campaigns with her hometown team.
It has been a difficult decision for the experienced defender to close this chapter with the Brisbane Roar, but she feels it is finally the right time.
“This decision hasn’t been an easy one to make, I love soccer, it’s been part of my life since I was eight years old,” Rasschaert said.
“But the time finally feels right to close the book on this part of my life so I can start to focus more on other things like my work and family,” she added.
She is proud of what she has achieved in her professional career at both Canberra United and the Roar, all while balancing motherhood and her day job as a physiotherapist.
“I’m not going to lie, its hard juggling soccer, work and being a mum,” she said.
“It gets a little hectic at times, but somehow you manage to balance it all and I am proud of what I have achieved in my short professional career.”
Rasschaert has enjoyed her time playing at Brisbane as it has presented her with long-lasting friendships and memories.
“My time playing in the A-League and playing with Roar has been so memorable and I have been lucky enough to meet some amazing players and legends of the club,” she said.
“When you train together every day for six months of the year, it would be impossible not to forge lasting friendships with the girls, they really do become your best mates.”
A career highlight for Rasschaert was scoring her first Liberty A-League goal against Adelaide United to secure a 1-0 win earlier this year.
She looks forward to developing her career as a physiotherapist and says that she will continue to play soccer in the QLD NPLW.
