Julie Ertz is an accomplished American soccer player who currently plays for the Chicago Red Stars in the National Women’s Soccer League. She is also a key member of the United States women’s national soccer team, having won two FIFA Women’s World Cup titles in 2015 and 2019. Julie has also represented the US at the 2016 Olympic Games. Her exceptional skills and contributions to the sport have earned her the prestigious ‘U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year’ award twice, in 2017 and 2019. Prior to her professional career, Julie had a successful youth career, winning nine state titles with the Sereno Soccer Club. She played collegiate soccer for the Santa Clara University Broncos and was selected as the third overall pick in the 2014 NWSL College Draft by the Chicago Red Stars. Off the field, Julie is married to Zach Ertz, an American football player for the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL.
Quick Facts
- Also Known As: Julie Beth Ertz, Julie Beth Johnston
- Age: 31 Years, 31 Year Old Females
- Family:
- Spouse/Ex-: Zach Ertz (m. 2017)
- Father: David Johnston
- Mother: Kristi Johnston
- Siblings: Melanie Johnston
- Born Country: United States
- Football Players
- American Women
- Height: 5’7″ (170 cm), 5’7″ Females
- Notable Alumni: Santa Clara University
- U.S. State: Arizona
- More Facts
- Education: Santa Clara University
- Awards: FIFA FIFPro Women’s World XI
Childhood & Early Life
Julie Ertz, originally known as Julie Beth Johnston, was born on April 6, 1992, in Mesa, Arizona, to parents Kristi and David Johnston. She was introduced to soccer at a young age through the American Youth Soccer Organization and played for the Arizona Arsenal Soccer Club from 2000 to 2004. In 2004, she joined the Sereno Soccer Club in Phoenix, where her older sister Melanie also played. Julie represented the club’s U13 through U19 teams until 2010, serving as captain and winning the state title nine times during her time there. She attended Dobson High School in Mesa from 2006 to 2010, where she was a member of the National Honor Society. Although she did not play for the school soccer team, she volunteered as a student athletic trainer.
Youth Career
Julie Ertz enrolled at Santa Clara University to pursue a communications course and joined the Broncos women’s soccer team as a midfielder. In her freshman year in 2010, she registered five assists and was named the ‘WCC Freshman of the Year’. She also received several other accolades, including being selected into the NSCAA All-West Region Second-Team, Soccer America All-Freshman First-Team, All-WCC Second-Team, and WCC All-Freshman Team. Throughout her college career, she continued to excel on the field, earning recognition as a semi-finalist for the ‘MAC Hermann Trophy’ and being named to various All-American and All-Conference teams.
Club Career
In the 2014 NWSL College Draft, Julie Ertz was selected as the third overall pick by the Chicago Red Stars. She scored a goal on her debut and was named the ‘NWSL Rookie of the Year’ at the end of the season. Despite missing parts of the 2015 and 2016 seasons due to national team commitments, she continued to contribute to the Red Stars’ success. In 2018, she suffered a knee injury but helped Chicago qualify for the playoffs. Throughout her club career, she has been recognized for her skills and has been named to the NWSL Best XI and NWSL Second XI.
International Career
Julie Ertz has had a successful international career representing the United States. She captained the US national team that won the 2012 CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s Championship and the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. She made her senior team debut in 2013 and has since been a key player for the national team. She has represented the US in various tournaments, including the FIFA Women’s World Cup and the Olympics. In 2019, she helped the US win their fourth World Cup title and was named the ‘U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year’ for the second time.
Family & Personal Life
Julie Ertz met Zach Ertz, a tight end for the Philadelphia Eagles, in 2012 while they were both in college. They got engaged in 2016 and married in 2017. The couple posed naked for ESPN’s ‘The Magazine’s Body Issue’ in 2017. They also launched the Ertz Family Foundation in 2018 to make a positive impact on the world using their success as athletes.
Trivia
Julie Ertz and her national teammates were featured in the video game ‘FIFA 16’, which was the first game in the EA Sports series to include women players.