{{short description|Costa Rican footballer (born 1985)}} {{EngvarB|date=May 2022}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}} {{family name hatnote|Cruz|Traña|lang=Spanish}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Shirley Cruz | image = 20130113 - PSG-Montpellier 051.jpg | caption = Cruz Traña with PSG in 2012–13 season | full_name = Shirley Cruz Traña<ref name="FIFA 2015">{{cite news |url=http://www.fifadata.com/document/FWWC/2015/pdf/FWWC_2015_SquadLists.pdf |title=List of Players - 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup |work=Fédération Internationale de Football Association |accessdate=18 June 2015 |archive-date=6 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250306125454/https://www.fifadata.com/document/FWWC/2015/pdf/FWWC_2015_SquadLists.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1985|8|28|df=yes}}<ref name="FIFA 2015" /> | birth_place = San José, Costa Rica | height = {{height|m=1.65}}<ref name="FIFA 2015" /> | position = Midfielder | currentclub = Toluca (women) (assistant) | clubnumber = | youthclubs1 = CF Universidad | youthyears1 = 1997–1999 | youthclubs2 = AD Goicoechea | youthyears2 = 1999–2000 | youthclubs3 = CS Desamparados | youthyears3 = 2000–2002 | youthclubs4 = UCEM Alajuela | youthyears4 = 2002–2005 | youthclubs5 = Saprissa FF | youthyears5 = 2005 | clubs1 = Lyon | years1 = 2006–2012 | caps1 = 115 <!-- LEAGUE APPEARANCES & GOALS ONLY--> | goals1 = 24 | clubs2 = Paris Saint-Germain | years2 = 2012–2018 | caps2 = 91 <!-- LEAGUE APPEARANCES & GOALS ONLY--> | goals2 = 16 | years3 = 2018 | clubs3 = Jiangsu Suning | caps3 = 0 | goals3 = 0 | years4 = 2019–2020 | clubs4 = Alajuelense | caps4 = 9 | goals4 = 5 | years5 = 2020–2021 | clubs5 = OL Reign | caps5 = 12 | goals5 = 2 | years6 = 2022–2023 | clubs6 = Alajuelense | caps6 = | goals6 = | nationalteam1 = Costa Rica | nationalyears1 = 2002–2023 | nationalcaps1 = 109 | nationalgoals1 = 34 | manageryears1 = 2025– | managerclubs1 = Toluca (women) (assistant) | club-update = 8 June 2023 | nationalteam-update = 23 February 2023 | medaltemplates = {{Medal|Sport|Women's football}} {{Medal|Country| {{CRC}}}} {{MedalCompetition|Pan American Games}} {{MedalBronze|2019 Lima|Team}} }} '''Shirley Cruz Traña''' (born 28 August 1985) is a retired Costa Rican professional footballer who played as a midfielder. A creative midfielder who often acts as a deep-lying playmaker, Cruz is the second-ever female footballer behind Gabriela Trujillo from Costa Rica to play in Europe when she joined Lyon in 2005.
==Early life== Cruz was born in San José, capital city of Costa Rica, and discovered and learned the sport of football from her seven brothers.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}
==Club career== Cruz began her football career at CF Universidad in San Pedro, San José. Cruz made a name for herself following her performance at the 1999 edition of the ''Los Juegos Deportivos Nacionales de San Carlos'', translated as the National Sporting Games of San Carlos. She later played for local clubs AD Goicoechea, CS Desamparados, and UCEM Alajuela. With Alajuela, Cruz won three league titles and also earned the top scorer award once.<ref>[http://www.vueltaenu.co.cr/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7416 Talentosa jugadora exportó sus goles a francia] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718162520/http://www.vueltaenu.co.cr/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7416 |date=18 July 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nacion.com/puro-deporte/seleccion-nacional/shirley-cruz-fue-elegida-como-la-mejor-jugadora-en-fase-de-grupos-del-mundial-de-canada/5E4IGTJ7JBAWLEC3PARGGTSBMU/story/|title=Shirley Cruz fue elegida como la mejor jugadora en fase de grupos del Mundial de Canadá|work=La Nación, Grupo Nación|access-date=2018-11-03|language=es-LA}}</ref>
Due to her performances locally, she signed with UCEM Alajuela and, in January 2006, moved abroad signing with Division 1 Féminine club Olympique Lyonnais. Due to joining the club mid-season, Cruz appeared in only seven league matches scoring three goals. The 2006–07 season saw her playing time increase to 12 matches and also saw Lyon win their first league title under their new emblem. In the Challenge de France, Cruz was instrumental in helping Lyon reaching the final, where they lost to Montpellier on penalties scoring four goals in five appearances. The next season saw Lyon win the double following their league title and 3–0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the Challenge de France. Cruz appeared in 32 total matches, which included appearances in the UEFA Women's Cup.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}
Cruz appeared in all 22 league matches (starting 20) during the 2008–09 season, which saw Lyon win their third straight title. She also appeared in all seven UEFA Women's Cup matches, where Lyon suffered elimination in the semi-finals after losing 2–4 on aggregate to German club FCR 2001 Duisburg. On 18 September 2009, Cruz, for the first time, signed with Lyon under professional terms (previously contracts were semi-professional) after agreeing to a two-year contract, which will keep her at the club until 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nacion.com/puro-deporte/shirley-cruz-sigue-dos-anos-mas-en-francia/3WGBBSWMRFBTZGMAFDVKLYJXDQ/story/|title=Shirley Cruz sigue dos años más en Francia}}</ref> Cruz got off to a quick start for the 2009–10 season scoring a hat trick in the opening league match against AS Montigny-le-Bretonneux, which ended in a 6–0 victory.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://twitter.com/tdmas_cr/status/857599811826143233|title=TDMás on Twitter|work=Twitter|access-date=2018-11-03}}</ref>
Cruz signed with Chinese Women's Super League team Jiangsu Suning in January 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nacion.com/puro-deporte/legionarios/shirley-cruz-deja-el-paris-sg-para-jugar-en-el/UBEH72ZFMRAX5MCFRTITROWSIU/story/|title=Shirley Cruz deja el París SG para jugar en el Jiangsu Suning de China|agency=Agence France-Presse|website=La Nación, Grupo Nación|date=23 January 2018|access-date=6 February 2018|archive-date=7 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207122328/https://www.nacion.com/puro-deporte/legionarios/shirley-cruz-deja-el-paris-sg-para-jugar-en-el/UBEH72ZFMRAX5MCFRTITROWSIU/story/|url-status=live}}</ref>
In March 2020, Cruz signed with OL Reign for the 2020 NWSL season,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Shirley Cruz signs with OL Reign|url=https://www.sounderatheart.com/2020/3/17/21183524/shirley-cruz-signing-ol-reign|access-date=2021-10-31|website=www.sounderatheart.com|date=17 March 2020}}{{Dead link|date=May 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> which due to the pandemic, was reformatted and condensed to shorter post tournament style competitions, the Challenge Cup and Fall Series. In December 2020, Cruz re-signed with Reign for the 2021 NWSL season.<ref>{{Cite web|title=OL Reign Re-signs Shirley Cruz for 2021 Season|url=https://www.reignfc.com/news/2020/12/4/ol-reign-re-sign-shirley-cruz-for-2021-season-lrx3t|access-date=2021-10-31|website=www.olreign.com}}</ref> In December 2021, OL Reign waived the rights to Cruz and she left the club.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.olreign.com/news/ol-reign-waive-shirley-cruz-and-rosie-white|title=OL Reign Waive Shirley Cruz and Rosie White|publisher=OL Reign|date=8 December 2021|access-date=8 December 2021|archive-date=31 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221031184528/https://www.olreign.com/news/ol-reign-waive-shirley-cruz-and-rosie-white|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Cruz returned to Alajuelense in 2022 and captained the club to its third, fourth, and fifth championships in the 2022 Apertura and Clausura, and 2023 Apertura. After the last championship, Cruz suggested that it would be her last before retirement.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.hoyeneldeportecr.com/asi-es-como-se-tiene-que-retirar-el-emotivo-mensaje-de-natalia-mills-a-shirley-cruz/ |title="Así es como se tiene que retirar"; el emotivo mensaje de Natalia Mills a Shirley Cruz |trans-title="This is how you have to retire": Natalia Mills' emotional message to Shirley Cruz |date=4 June 2023 |access-date=8 June 2023 |work=Hoy en el Deporte |language=es}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.lateja.cr/deportes/shirley-cruz-ahora-quiero-descansar/YQRXFVM2SFHFBDBULUNDFUSYCI/story/ |title=Shirley Cruz: 'Ahora quiero descansar' |trans-title=Shirley Cruz: "Now I want to rest" |date=3 June 2023 |access-date=8 June 2023 |work=La Teja |first1=Franklin |last1=Arroyo |first2=Sergio |last2=Alvarado}}</ref> She had previously stated her intent to retire from football after the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://amprensa.com/2023/05/pato-lopez-le-he-pedido-a-shirley-cruz-que-se-retire-hasta-diciembre/ |title=Pato López: "Le he pedido a Shirley Cruz que se retire hasta diciembre" |trans-title=Pato López: "I've asked Shirley Cruz not to retire until December" |work=AM Prensa |date=27 May 2023 |access-date=8 June 2023 |first=Luis Felipe |last=Castillo |language=es}}</ref>
In the 2023 Apertura championship match's second leg on 3 June 2023, the team rallied from a 1–4 first-leg deficit against Sporting F.C. to win the title 5–4 on aggregate. After the match, Cruz told reporters that when Natalia Mills scored the series-winning fourth goal of the second leg, Mills told her, "Así se tiene que retirar" ("This is how (you) have to retire").<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.mundiario.com/articulo/cr-deportes/alajuelense-logra-pentacampeonato-remontada-historica-sporting-fc/20230604203915270692.html |title=Alajuelense logra el pentacampeonato con una remontada histórica ante Sporting FC |trans-title=Alajuelense achieves the five-time championship with a historic comeback against Sporting FC |date=4 June 2023 |access-date=8 June 2023 |work=Mundiario |first=Eduardo |last=Cubillo |language=es}}</ref>
On June 8, 2023, after unexpectedly not being selected to the national team roster for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://espndeportes.espn.com/futbol/costa-rica/nota/_/id/12163716/shirley-cruz-ausente-campamento-costa-rica-mundial |title=Shirley Cruz, ausente del campamento de Costa Rica previo al Mundial |trans-title=Shirley Cruz, absent from the Costa Rica camp prior to the World Cup |date=7 June 2023 |access-date=8 June 2023 |publisher=ESPN |language=es}}</ref> Cruz announced her retirement from football on social media.<ref name="retirement">{{cite tweet |user=ShirleyCruzCR |author=Shirley Cruz |number=1666794253572292610 |title=¡Gracias por tanto! 🙌🏻 🇨🇷 |date=8 June 2023 |access-date=8 June 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://espndeportes.espn.com/futbol/costa-rica/nota?id=12170437&_slug_=seleccionadas-responden-ausencia-gan-capitana-shirley-cruz-lista-mundial |title=Seleccionadas responden a ausencia de su gran capitana Shirley Cruz en lista para el Mundial |trans-title=National team players respond to the absence of their great captain Shirley Cruz from the list for the World Cup |date=8 June 2023 |access-date=8 June 2023 |work=ESPN |language=es}}</ref>
==International career== Cruz has earned caps with the Costa Rican under-19 and under-20 women's teams. Her first appearance with the senior team occurred at the 2002 CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup, which served as a qualifying tournament for the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup. Following a match in 2004 against Canada, in which she suffered a sprained right knee, Cruz did not feature with the national team for the next two years, due to commitments with her football club. In 2006, she made herself available for selection making her return to the team during qualification for the 2006 CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://cronica.cr/orbita/psg-se-complica-juego-58-shirley-cruz-la-champions/|title=Shirley Cruz ilusionada por su octava semifinal de Champions (galerías) – Cronica Costa Rica|last=Calvo|first=Rodrigo|date=2017-04-21|work=Cronica Costa Rica|access-date=2018-11-03|language=es-ES|archive-date=4 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104093137/http://cronica.cr/orbita/psg-se-complica-juego-58-shirley-cruz-la-champions/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Costa Rica qualified for its first ever FIFA Women's World Cup tournament and Cruz captained the team at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada, playing all three of Costa Rica's matches.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/statisticsandrecords/players/player=196670/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107132039/http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/statisticsandrecords/players/player=196670/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 November 2012 |title=FIFA player's stats |publisher=FIFA |accessdate=29 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://cronica.cr/columnas/sueno-mundialista-shirley-cruz-hecho-realidad/|title=El sueño mundialista de Shirley Cruz hecho realidad – Cronica Costa Rica|last=Cruz|first=Shirley|date=2016-06-24|work=Cronica Costa Rica|access-date=2018-11-03|language=es-ES|archive-date=29 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429185952/http://cronica.cr/columnas/sueno-mundialista-shirley-cruz-hecho-realidad/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Honors== '''San José FF''' *First Women's Division of Costa Rica: 2000
'''UCEM Alajuela''' *First Women's Division of Costa Rica: 2003, 2004
'''Lyon'''<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.crhoy.com/deportes/66-goles-293-partidos-11-anos-shirley-cruz-marca-historia-en-europa/|title=66 goles, 293 partidos, 11 años: Shirley Cruz marca historia en Europa {{!}} Crhoy.com|work=CRHoy.com {{!}} Periodico Digital {{!}} Costa Rica Noticias 24/7|access-date=2018-11-03|language=es-ES}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://twitter.com/coffuf/status/1005572144640745472|title=COFFUF on Twitter|work=Twitter|access-date=2018-11-03}}</ref> *Division 1 Féminine (6): 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12 *Coupe de France Féminine (2): 2007–08, 2011–12 *UEFA Women's Champions League (2): 2010–11, 2011–12
'''Jiangsu Suning'''<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nacion.com/puro-deporte/futbol-nacional/shirley-cruz-levanto-su-segundo-titulo-de-campeona/A26EAGC32RAKNPT7RODXO6NL6A/story/|title=Shirley Cruz levantó su segundo título de campeona en China|work=La Nación, Grupo Nación|access-date=2018-11-03|language=es-LA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.mariosegura.com/shirley-cruz-cosecha-su-primer-titulo-en-futbol-de-china/|title=Shirley Cruz cosecha su primer título en fútbol de China|access-date=2018-11-03|language=es-ES}}</ref> *Chinese FA Cup: 2018 *Regional cup: 2018
'''Alajuelense FF''' *Costa Rican Women's Premier Division: 2019, Apertura 2022, Clausura 2022, Apertura 2023 *UNCAF Women's Interclub Championship: 2022
'''Costa Rica''' *Central American Games: 2013<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.diarioextra.com/Noticia/detalle/330582/buzon-de-rodrigo|title=Diario Extra – Buzón de Rodrigo|last=www.diarioextra.com|website=www.diarioextra.com|language=ES|access-date=2018-11-03}}</ref> *Pan American Games Bronze medal: 2019<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 12, 2019 |title=Costa Rica wins five medals in Pan American Games |url=https://www.amcostarica.com/Costa%20Rica%20wins%20five%20medals%20in%20Pan%20American%20Games.html |access-date=January 10, 2023 |website=AM Costa Rica}}</ref> *CONCACAF Women's Championship runner-up: 2014<ref>{{cite web |title=Wambach fires for four, U.S. claims CWC title |url=http://www.concacaf.com/article/costa-rica-0-united-states-6 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141029174725/http://www.concacaf.com/article/costa-rica-0-united-states-6 |archive-date=2014-10-29 |access-date=2014-10-26 |publisher=concacaf.com}}</ref>
'''Individual''' *IFFHS CONCACAF Woman Team of the Decade 2011–2020<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.iffhs.com/index.php/posts/927 |title=IFFHS WOMAN TEAM - CONCACAF - OF THE DECADE 2011-2020 |work=IFFHS |date=29 January 2021 |access-date=12 June 2021 |archive-date=12 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210612130152/https://www.iffhs.com/index.php/posts/927 |url-status=live }}</ref> *CONCACAF Best XI: 2015,<ref name="best xi" /> 2016<ref>{{cite web |date=18 January 2017 |title=Bryan Ruiz and Alex Morgan Named 2016 CONCACAF Players of the Year |url=http://www.concacaf.com/article/bryan-ruiz-and-alex-morgan-named-2016-concacaf-players-of-the-year |accessdate=18 January 2017 |website=CONCACAF |archive-date=21 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170121045453/http://www.concacaf.com/article/bryan-ruiz-and-alex-morgan-named-2016-concacaf-players-of-the-year |url-status=live }}</ref> *CONCACAF Female Player of the Year second place: 2014<ref>{{cite web |date=23 December 2014 |title=Navas, Wambach named 2014 CONCACAF Players of the Year |url=http://www.concacaf.com/article/navas-wambach-named-2014-concacaf-players-of-the-year-2 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160228035845/http://www.concacaf.com/article/navas-wambach-named-2014-concacaf-players-of-the-year-2 |archive-date=2016-02-28 |accessdate=23 December 2014 |publisher=concacaf.com }}</ref> *CONCACAF Female Player of the Year third place: 2013,<ref>{{cite web |date=13 December 2013 |title=Peralta, Morgan named 2013 CONCACAF Players of the Year |url=http://www.concacaf.com/article/peralta-morgan-named-2013-concacaf-players-of-the-year |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214152731/http://www.concacaf.com/article/peralta-morgan-named-2013-concacaf-players-of-the-year |archive-date=14 December 2013 |access-date=15 December 2013 |publisher=CONCACAF.com |df=dmy-all}}</ref> 2015<ref name="best xi">{{cite web |title=Javier Hernandez and Carli Lloyd Named 2015 CONCACAF Players of the Year |url=http://www.concacaf.com/article/javier-hernandez-and-carli-lloyd-named-2015-concacaf-players-of-the-year |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819135212/http://www.concacaf.com/article/javier-hernandez-and-carli-lloyd-named-2015-concacaf-players-of-the-year |archive-date=19 August 2017 |access-date=22 January 2016 |publisher=CONCACAF}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} * {{FIFA player|196670|Shirley Cruz Traña}} * {{UEFA player|1904624}} * [http://fedefutbolcr.com/yo-soy-14/ Profile] {{in lang|es}} at Fedefutbol * [http://www.psg.fr/en/Woman-Team/4010004/Player-sheet/2744/Cruz-Shirley Profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170629205625/http://www.psg.fr/en/Woman-Team/4010004/Player-sheet/2744/Cruz-Shirley |date=29 June 2017 }} at Paris Saint-Germain * [http://www.olweb.fr/fr/Accueil/300104/Fiche-Joueur/1454/CRUZ-TRANA-Shirley?grp=3&saison=2009 Profile] {{in lang|fr}} at Olympique Lyonnais * {{Soccerway|shirley-cruz-trana/19704}}
{{Navboxes | title = Costa Rica squads | bg = #CE1126 | fg = white | bordercolor = blue |list1= {{Costa Rica squad 2014 CONCACAF Women's Championship}} {{Costa Rica squad 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup}} {{Costa Rica squad 2018 CONCACAF Women's Championship}} {{Costa Rica squad 2022 CONCACAF W Championship}} }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cruz, Shirley}} Category:1985 births Category:Living people Category:Women's association football midfielders Category:Costa Rican women's footballers Category:21st-century Costa Rican sportswomen Category:Footballers from San José, Costa Rica Category:Costa Rica women's international footballers Category:2015 FIFA Women's World Cup players Category:Pan American Games bronze medalists for Costa Rica Category:Pan American Games footballers for Costa Rica Category:Pan American Games bronze medalists in football Category:Footballers at the 2019 Pan American Games Category:Footballers at the 2011 Pan American Games Category:Footballers at the 2015 Pan American Games Category:Central American Games gold medalists for Costa Rica Category:Central American Games medalists in football Category:Première Ligue players Category:OL Lyonnes players Category:Paris Saint-Germain FC (women) players Category:Costa Rican expatriate women's footballers Category:Costa Rican expatriate sportspeople in France Category:Expatriate women's footballers in France Category:Costa Rican expatriate sportspeople in China Category:Expatriate women's footballers in China Category:Seattle Reign FC players Category:National Women's Soccer League players Category:Medalists at the 2019 Pan American Games Category:FIFA Women's Century Club Category:Alajuelense Fútbol Femenino footballers Category:UEFA Women's Champions League–winning players Category:2022 CONCACAF W Championship players Category:2018 CONCACAF Women's Championship players Category:2014 CONCACAF Women's Championship players Category:Footballers at the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games