EXCLUSIVE: Zara Kramzar speaks about making her move to Everton and preparing to face Liverpool in the Merseyside Derby at Goodison Park
16:20, 27 Mar 2026Updated 16:28, 27 Mar 2026
After starting out in an all-boys football team, Zara Kramzar scored on her international debut for Slovenia when she was just 16, but now she wants to break her duck for Everton in the Merseyside Derby against Liverpool in their high noon showdown on Saturday.
The midfielder, who came on as a second-half substitute to net against Kosovo in a friendly on November 12, 2022, joined Everton from Roma on February 3, on loan for the rest of the season with an obligation to buy this summer.
Asked about her ambitions for the remainder of the campaign, Kramzar told the ECHO: “We want to win as many games as we can and pick up as many points as possible over the rest of the season.
“Personally, I want to score my first goal for Everton. It would be nice if it came against Liverpool. I’m ready for the physicality, it is part of the game, and I will try and make the best out of it.
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“I think we should have won in the cup game last month. I think the will to win is even greater now because we didn’t beat them last time.
“I’ve only been here a short time, but like in many big cities, there is that rivalry. I think you can feel it, that it’s always blue and red, Everton and Liverpool.
“I’ve only played one game at Goodison Park so far, but I think it’s so nice that we get the opportunity to play at such a big stadium with such a big history. I’m looking forward to playing there a lot more and I hope we see a lot of Everton fans and a lot of blue in the stands.”
Kramzar was speaking while joining team-mate Aurora Galli at a bracelet/bag-charm making workshop at LilliBet Beads on Lark Lane with a group of teenage Everton Women season-ticket holders. Although still only 20 herself, she can see a big difference to her own childhood football experiences. She said: “It’s so nice. I think we should do more of these things.
“I think the fans are happy to see us and we are also happy because they support us every weekend at every game. Without them, it’s not the same, so it’s great to spend some time with them.
“I didn’t have any role models from among female players when I was going up and in Slovenia, I didn’t actually watch that much football. I’d see some of the biggest games, but most of the time, I just played by myself.
“My sister played basketball and everyone thought I’d go to basketball, but I just wanted to play football and went with my dad to the pitch and started training with boys. At first, the whole team were boys apart from me.
“Later on, other girls joined because they saw I played. But some of them came for a bit and stopped, so mostly I was the only girl there.”
Zara Kramzar joined team-mate Aurora Galli at a bracelet/bag-charm making workshop at LilliBet Beads on Lark Lane with a group of teenage Everton Women season ticket holders(Image: EMMA SIMPSON)
After starting with ZNK Ljubljana in her homeland, Kramzar made the move to neighbouring Italy in 2022 to join Roma and after a loan spell with another Serie A side, Como, she is hoping to establish herself in the Women’s Super League, which believes is the number one domestic competition in the game.
She said: “From the beginning, I knew that I wanted to be in football for my whole life. I didn’t know what to expect abroad, but that’s what I was talking about, and I just wanted to go.
“I got an opportunity and I took it and I’d always do the same again. With Roma, I won two titles, the cup and the super cup.
“It was nice to achieve all of that and be part of the team, but I was young, so maybe it wasn’t so much down to my work, and I’d like to have played a larger role. It means a lot to me, but I also look forward to achieving something with me getting more minutes on the pitch.”
Asked what attracted her to join Everton, Kramzar said: “It’s England. I think it’s the best league in the world.
“At the moment, it’s growing so fast and everything is heading in this direction in women’s football. I wanted to come here and play the best football, so straight away I accepted the opportunity.
“In some ways this is a big move for me because it’s far away. My family were able to drive me to Italy, but it’s only two hours on a plane and I’ve got used to it, being alone and it’s ok.
“I think that English football is different. It’s much more intense and stronger.
“I still have many things I can get better at, but playing in England for Everton can help me a lot.
“All the team have been really nice when it came to welcoming me and I think I’ve got some new friends already, but I’m looking forward to getting them better.”
Zara Kramzar and Aurora Galli get stuck into the activities at a bracelet/bag-charm making workshop at LilliBet Beads on Lark Lane with a group of teenage Everton Women season ticket holders
Just one day after Kramzar signed for Everton, Scott Phelan was appointed interim head coach for the rest of the season and the Scouser’s methods have impressed her.
She said: “Scott has been very open and he’s brought a lot of energy to the team. If you have a problem, you can go and talk to him.
“His tactics are very clear. If you deserve an opportunity, he’ll give it to you and the training has been really intense with high competition for places.
“I think we have got a really good energy and mood within the team. I hope the Manchester United game was just one bad day maybe, so we can continue the winning streak.”
Tickets for Everton Women v Liverpool Women are priced at £12 for adults and £6 for juniors (under-18s), while a family ticket for two adults and two juniors is available for £20. To book yours today online, click here, call 0151 556 1878 or visit the South Stand Ticket Office at Hill Dickinson Stadium. Ahead of the action, there will be a host of family activities for supporters to enjoy, including a timely visit from the Easter Bunny, who will be hopping between concourses, handing out free chocolate eggs to young Blues.