Mirelle van Rijbroek is the person currently in charge of unearthing the next rough diamonds to be shaped into sparkling gems.

Since 2017, van Rijbroek has been the US Soccer Federation’s (USSF) Director of Talent Identification for the girls’ pathway, a job she says is more a “way of life”.

Born in the Netherlands, van Rijbroek moved to Australia at the age of 22 to pursue her dream of playing soccer at the highest level. While playing, and working, she completed her Uefa C, B and A licences.

She went on to be a talent coach for the KNVB [Royal Dutch Football Association] and got her first full-time role in soccer as a coach and technical manager at Willem II, a then newly-formed, but now disbanded, women’s team competing in the Eredivisie.

Van Rijbroek was later head of talent ID, talent development and elite performance for the Dutch youth national teams, a role she says allowed her to provide opportunities to female players with a dream.

Her current role with the USSF has three strands: youth national-team development, talent identification education and supporting members and clubs in their talent ID initiatives.