MELBOURNE, Australia -- Philippines international Angela Beard is returning to Melbourne Victory for the coming A-League Women season, as previously reported ESPN.
Beard, 29, previously spent four seasons across two stints at AAMI Park, winning a championship with the Australian heavyweights in the 2020-21 campaign.
The move means Jeff Hopkins will once again coach Beard in 2026-27, with the Welsh-Australian having first worked with her as she progressed through Brisbane Roar's pathway and later coached her during both of her previous stints at Victory.
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Victory confirmed the move with a statement issued on Wednesday.
"It feels awesome to be back at Melbourne Victory," Beard said in the statement.
"The players, staff and training environment here provides the perfect runway for the season ahead and into the Women's World Cup next year.
"It is a place that means an awful lot to me and holds so many special memories.
"I am determined to create more of those this season and make everybody connected to the Club extremely proud."
Hopkins said: "Angie has enjoyed tremendous success at Melbourne Victory previously and returns to the club with added experience but the same hunger and leadership which makes her such a force out on the pitch.
"I am looking forward to working with her again and seeing her flourish once more here in Melbourne and across the A-League battlegrounds."
After multiple years in Europe, Beard returned to Australia for the tail end of the 2025-26 A-League Women season with the Roar, logging eight goals and netting an assist for her hometown club.
The Queensland native has also logged stints with Western United and NPLW side Calder United in Victoria, both times playing under current national team coach Mark Torcaso.
Filipinas assistant Riccardo Marchioli is also currently based in Melbourne, while former assistant Andrew Durante works as an assistant in Victory's men's program.
Beard has made 30 international appearances and scored twice for the Philippines since her debut at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.
A three-time Australian international, Beard switched to the Philippines ahead of the 2023 World Cup and has since made 30 international appearances for the Filipinas, netting two goals and helping them secure qualification for the 2027 World Cup.
However, in a blow for her adopted nation, Torcaso confirmed after her absence from a pre-tournament training camp in Manila that Beard was set to be ruled out of the Philippines squad for the Asian Games after picking up an injury.
After finishing as quarterfinalists three years ago, the Filipinas will face Uzbekistan, Hong Kong and three-time champions China in Group G at the Games, which will commence next month in Japan.
Victory's women's team resumed preseason training last Monday and will open their A-League Women campaign on Oct. 17 against the Western Sydney Wanderers.