Stephanie Zambra announces her retirement from the game

Stephanie Zambra

Stephanie Zambra Credit: Peter Fitzpatrick (ETPhotos)

Shamrock Rovers striker Stephanie Zambra has called time on her playing career today with the Republic of international international announcing her retirement this weekend from the game.

The forward 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 and the Hoops are offering free admission to that match.

On Instagram the player said: “To Football, Thanks for the memories, the friendships and the opportunities. It’s been some journey…”

Sunday's 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.

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.

She will pull on a jersey for the final time this Saturday, and Shamrock Rovers are encouraging as many fans as possible to come along to say goodbye, offering free admission to all at Tallaght Stadium (Kick off 4.30pm).



About Macdara Ferris

Macdara Ferris is a contributor since 2007 to Hoops Scene (Shamrock Rovers' match day programme) and is the co-author of two books on Shamrock Rovers - 'Tallaght Time: Shamrock Rovers 2009 to 2012' (with Karl … View Full Profile