Veteran goalkeeper Erin McLeod, whose soccer career took her to Sweden, Germany, Iceland and the United States, returns to Canada as the first player signed by Halifax Tides FC of the Northern Super League.

McLeod, 41, announced his retirement from international football in January 2023, after 119 caps. But the St. Albert, Alberta native continued her club career, most recently with Stjarnan FC in Iceland.

The Northern Super League is set to begin in April with teams in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa as well as Halifax.

“I’ve wanted this league since I was a kid,” McLeod said in an interview.

“I’m 41 years old and it’s a reality,” she added. “But I really want to compete. I’m just excited to be able to extend my career and, honestly, to come home.”

McLeod is the fifth signing in the new league, following forward Jade Kovacevic (AFC Toronto), midfielder Charlotte Bilbault and goalkeeper Gabrielle Lambert (both from Montreal Roses FC) and midfielder Farkhunda Muhtaj (Calgary Wild FC).

“Bringing Erin into our team is a huge milestone for Halifax Tides FC,” Halifax sporting director Amit Batra said in a statement. “Erin is passionate about Canada finally having its own national women’s league and knows there is so much talent in our country that goes unnoticed.

“His extensive experience at the highest levels of the game will help guide our team and inspire young athletes across the country. We are proud to have him as the Tides’ first signing.”

McLeod has family ties to Halifax and spent time there working as an equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility consultant.

“I met a lot of great people there,” she said. “The sense of community and a lot of what they do in inclusive spaces is something I’m passionate about.

“And of course, my sister lives there with her family. And my partner and I just had a new baby, so we’re going to need the support of our family as we take on this new adventure.”

McLeod and his wife, Icelandic international midfielder Gunny Jonsdottir, welcomed a baby boy 10 days ago.

McLeod has spent the last two seasons in Iceland, working on his coaching licenses while playing. She was transitioning into a coaching role, but says her desire to continue playing was reinvigorated by news of the new Canadian women’s league.

“My motivation started coming back. And after about a month of not playing any games, I started playing and playing really, really well.”

McLeod last played for Canada on October 26, 2021, in a 1–0 friendly win over New Zealand in Montreal – his 47th clean sheet.

She was in goal during Canada’s women’s bronze medal run at the 2012 London Olympics and started throughout the 2015 World Cup on home soil. She was an alternate on the team that won gold at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, but dressed for the game against Chile when Kailen Sheridan replaced the injured Stephanie Labbé.

McLeod was 19 when she made her senior debut for Canada in a 4–0 win over Wales in March 2002 at the Algarve Cup.

Since then, she has survived a series of injuries, including five knee operations and one shoulder operation.

“I definitely changed the way I train, as well as the way I talk to myself and deal with mistakes,” she said. “I’m enjoying it, probably the most I have as long as I can remember. Because I accept the good and the bad. I’m just excited to keep playing.”

McLeod began her career with the Vancouver Whitecaps in the USL W-League in 2004. She later played for the Washington Freedom, Dalsjofors GoIF of Sweden, Chicago Red Stars, Houston Dash and FC Rosengard and Vaxjo DFF from Sweden before joining the Orlando Pride in 2004. February 2020 and loaned to Stjarnan.

At the collegiate level, she played two years at Southern Methodist University and two years at Penn State. As a senior, she led the Nittany Lions to an undefeated regular season in 2005 while she was a MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.

McLeod has several strings to his bow.

She has long been an LGBTQ spokesperson. In 2014, she joined forces with fellow Olympian Adam van Koeverden, now Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and Minister of Sport, in the successful campaign to add sexual orientation to the Olympic Charter.

In 2019, McLeod launched the Mindful Project, developed in tandem with Professor Rachel Lindvall of Bethel University. The goal is to help focus more on positive thoughts while overcoming negative thoughts.

Outside of football, McLeod has worked as an artist, musician and entrepreneur.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published October 29, 2024.