Shirley Cruz Traña

Shirley Cruz Traña

Shirley Cruz Traña during PSG-Montpellier (season 2012-2013)
Personal information
Full name	Shirley Cruz Traña
Date of birth	(1985-08-28) 28 August 1985 (age 31)
Place of birth	San José, Costa Rica
Height	1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current team	Paris Saint-Germain
Number	28
Youth career
1997–1999	CF Universidad
1999–2000	AD Goicoechea
2000–2002	CS Desamparados
2002–2005	UCEM Alajuela
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2005–2012	Lyon	115	(24)
2012–	Paris Saint-Germain	78	(15)
National team‡
2002–	Costa Rica	63	(21)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18 December 2016. ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 18 June 2015

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 18 December 2016.

Shirley Cruz Traña (born 28 August 1985 in San José) is a Costa Rican football player who plays for French club Paris Saint-Germain in the Division 1 Féminine. Cruz joined Lyon in January 2006 having previously played for the women's section of Costa Rican UCEM Alajuela and plays as a creative midfielder, often acting as a deep-lying playmaker. She is also a member of the Costa Rica women's national football team making her first major tournament appearance with her nation at the 2002 CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup, which served as a qualifying tournament for the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Cruz was born in the capital city of San José and discovered and learned the sport of football from her seven brothers. She 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.

Due to her performances locally, she signed with UCEM Alajuela and, in January 2006, moved abroad signing with Division 1 Féminine club Olympique Lyonnais. With her move, she became only the second Costa Rican women's football player, alongside Gabriela Trujillo, to play league football outside the country. 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.