Lindsey Horan

Lindsey Horan
Name	Lindsey Horan
Caption	Horan with the United States in 2021
Birth date	26 May 1994
Birth place	Golden, Colorado, U.S.
Height	5 ft 9 in
Position	Midfielder
Currentclub	Olympique Lyonnais
Youthyears1	2008–2012
Youthclubs1	Colorado Rush
Years1	2012–2016
Clubs1	Paris Saint-Germain
Caps1	58
Goals1	46
Years2	2016–2022
Clubs2	Portland Thorns FC
Caps2	101
Goals2	26
Years3	2022–
Clubs3	Olympique Lyonnais
Caps3	40
Goals3	10
Nationalyears1	2013–
Nationalteam1	United States
Nationalcaps1	144
Nationalgoals1	35
Medaltemplates	Country Sport, Women's soccer W, 2019 France W, 2023 Australia and New Zealand Olympic, 2020 Tokyo, Silver Olympic, 2016 Rio de Janeiro W, 2018 United States W, 2022 Mexico

Lindsey Horan is an American professional soccer player who captains the United States women's national soccer team and plays as a midfielder for French club Olympique Lyonnais. A technically gifted and physically dominant player, she is renowned for her aerial prowess, playmaking vision, and goal-scoring ability from midfield. Horan has been a central figure for the U.S. national team, winning the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup and 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, and has also achieved significant success at the club level in both NWSL and European competitions.

Early life and youth career

Born in Golden, Colorado, Horan was a multi-sport athlete before focusing on soccer. She played for the elite youth club Colorado Rush, where she developed under the guidance of coaches like Erik Bushey. Her exceptional talent was evident early, as she was named the Gatorade Player of the Year for Colorado in 2012. Despite receiving a scholarship offer from the University of North Carolina, a prestigious program led by Anson Dorrance, she made the groundbreaking decision to forgo NCAA soccer and turn professional directly out of high school, signing with French powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain.

Club career

Horan began her professional career with Paris Saint-Germain in 2012, quickly becoming a key player and helping the club win the Coupe de France Féminine in 2014. In 2016, she returned to the United States to join Portland Thorns FC of the National Women's Soccer League. With the Thorns, she won the NWSL Shield in 2016 and the NWSL Championship in 2017, also earning the NWSL Most Valuable Player award in 2018. In January 2022, she transferred to European giants Olympique Lyonnais, where she won the Division 1 Féminine and the UEFA Women's Champions League in her first season.

International career

Horan made her senior debut for the United States women's national soccer team in 2013. She was part of the squad that won the 2018 CONCACAF Women's Championship and became a starter during the triumphant 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup campaign in France. She scored in the final against the Netherlands. Horan represented the U.S. at the 2016 Summer Olympics and won a silver medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. After the retirement of Becky Sauerbrunn, she was named team captain ahead of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, which the U.S. team also won, and she later lifted the 2022 CONCACAF W Championship trophy as skipper.

Style of play

A versatile and complete midfielder, Horan is known for her exceptional strength, technical skill, and intelligence. She excels as a box-to-box midfielder, contributing significantly to both defense and attack. Her aerial ability, both in defensive duels and attacking set pieces, is a major asset, and she possesses a powerful and accurate shot from distance. Coaches like Vlatko Andonovski and Sonia Bompastor have utilized her in both deep-lying and advanced midfield roles, where her passing range and ability to dictate tempo are highly valued.

Personal life

Horan is in a long-term relationship with professional tennis player Ivan Ljubicic. She has been an advocate for player rights and mental health, speaking openly about the pressures of professional sports. Her decision to bypass college soccer in favor of a professional path in Europe was considered pioneering for American women's soccer at the time and has influenced subsequent generations of players.

Career statistics

As of 2024, Horan has earned over 140 caps for the United States women's national soccer team, scoring more than 30 international goals. At club level, she has made over 50 appearances for Paris Saint-Germain, more than 100 for Portland Thorns FC, and continues to add to her tally with Olympique Lyonnais in Division 1 Féminine and the UEFA Women's Champions League. Her honors include two FIFA Women's World Cup titles, a UEFA Women's Champions League crown, an NWSL Championship, and multiple domestic league titles in France and the United States.

Category:American women's soccer players Category:United States women's international soccer players Category:Olympique Lyonnais Féminin players