Stephanie Zambra has called time on her playing career today with the Republic of Ireland international announcing her retirement from the game.
The striker will play her final competitive match of a distinguished career on Saturday when Shamrock Rovers line out in their last Women’s Premier Division game of the season against Shelbourne at Tallaght Stadium.
That game will bring to a close a playing career that saw her shine for both club and country. During her time at international level with Ireland, she earned 58 international caps with the Girls in Green, scoring 14 times. She was a huge influence on and off the pitch – she was one of the players who took part in the protest at Liberty Hall in 2017 winning their battle for improved working conditions for those playing for the women’s international side.
In the domestic game, she was top scorer in the inaugural season of the Women’s National League in 2011/12 as she helped Peamount United to the title. She also led the scoring in the 2013/14 league campaign, in a season when her sensational viral goal against Wexford Youths earned her second place in the FIFA Puskás Award.
Her club career brought her to France (Albi), America (Houston Dash), England (Sunderland) and Italy (Florentia) before she returned to Peamount United, winning the league and cup double in 2020, scoring twice in the FAI Cup Final and winning player of the match.
When Shamrock Rovers returned to the top level of the women’s game in Ireland last year, she was one of Hoops Head Coach Collie O’Neill’s first signings as he brought in a player to help set high standards within a new senior squad drawn together from players within the club’s Academy and from around the league.
Steph is a complete trailblazer, she has not only set the bar high with her performances on the pitch but has also been a fantastic role model for younger players.
Collie O’Neill, Head Coach Shamrock Rovers Women’s Team
Throughout her illustrious career, she has demonstrated exemplary professionalism and maintained the highest standards in all her endeavours.
From all my dealings with her, it is clear that she is a very intelligent footballer and her dedication for the sport are unparalleled.
While we will miss her presence on the pitch, we are hopeful that she will join our coaching staff in the future, as she has so much more to give to the world of football.
Zambra is very much a role model within the game due to her exploits on and off the pitch, including her media work where she is regular pundit on RTÉ Television covering international matches across both the men’s and women’s game.
It hasn’t been the easiest decision, being a footballer has always been everything to me. I’ve loved every minute of the journey but all good things come to an end and I felt the time was right to move onto the next chapter.
Stephanie Zambra, speaking to shamrockrovers.ie
I’d like to say thank you to everyone who has played their part throughout my career. There are too many to thank individually but I’d like to thank all my teammates, coaches and officials from all the teams I’ve played for throughout the years. I’ve got live out my dream of playing for my country and becoming a professional footballer and hopefully I’ve been able to inspire others to chase their dreams.
She will pull on a jersey for the final time this Saturday, with the Club encouraging as many fans as possible to come along to say goodbye, offering free admission to all at Tallaght Stadium (Kick off 4:30pm).
