Caroline Weir has signed up with two sporting success stories already in 2020. In January, the midfielder extended her contract with Manchester City until 2022. In March, she committed to Andy Murray’s agency, 77 Sports Management.
“I am Scottish and a huge Andy Murray fan so that was a bit of a pull for me,” said the 24-year-old. So, too, was the chance to tap into the knowledge of the first British man to win a Grand Slam singles tournament since 1936.
“Andy has said from the beginning he is not a football player and he doesn’t claim to be a football expert,” said Weir. “From a professional athlete kind of view and the mental side of the game, he has had his fair share of struggles and success as well.
"When I think I could do with some advice, whether it is physical, training or mental, he is at the end of the phone and he is really helpful.”
It helps that Murray is something of a trailblazer. He appointed Amelie Mauresmo as his coach and has been a vocal advocate of equal pay for female tennis players.
“It just feels a natural thing for him to talk about,” Weir said. “As I get older and more experienced it is something I am more interested in and hopefully I can make a difference.”
Weir, a 2018 signing from Liverpool, has made a difference on the pitch. City finished second, seven points behind Arsenal, in last season’s Women’s Super League. When football halted, they were leading a tight title race. Chelsea are unbeaten this season but still behind City following an action-packed draw between the top two.
“We had that 3-3 which just showed how close all the teams really are,” Weir said. “I feel every year the league gets more competitive and that has been the case this year. The top three are battling it out, Arsenal, Chelsea and ourselves, but it is great to be part of it. There is no good time for a global pandemic but the season was going well and it was getting to the exciting part.”
Weir got City's campaign off to a memorable start. The first Manchester derby of the WSL era was decided by her spectacular long-range strike.
“A personal highlight,” she said. It ranks as one of her greatest goals. “I couldn’t really have asked for a better game: the atmosphere, playing in front of the [31,213] fans at the Etihad, it really was amazing. It was a derby and we needed the three points so it is up there for me.”
The disappointment was a second successive Champions League exit to Atletico Madrid. “It doesn’t sit well with us,” Weir said. “I don’t think we are that far off but we weren’t good enough over the two legs. But we kicked on in the league.”
They did so despite the departure of manager Nick Cushing to New York City FC following a successful six-and-a-half year reign.
“Nick is the best coach I have worked with,” said Weir. “He can make an average player a good player and a good player a great player.”
City are yet to appoint a permanent successor, but in the meantime, the interim manager and former Republic of Ireland international Alan Mahon has been spearheading their title challenge.
“Much as Nick was a great coach, the transition has been quite smooth,” Weir said. “Alan was also a midfielder when he played and left footed so I feel like we are quite similar in some ways.”
Mahon, who played for Tranmere, Wigan, Blackburn and Burnley, had a reputation for scoring special goals. As Manchester United can testify, it is a trait Weir shares.
