 Zambra withRepublic of Ireland in 2015 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Stephanie Zambra | ||
| Birth name | Stephanie Roche[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1989-06-13)13 June 1989 (age 36) | ||
| Place of birth | Dublin, Ireland | ||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[2] | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Shamrock Rovers | ||
| Number | 10 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Valeview Shankill FC | |||
| Cabinteely Girls | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2002–2007 | Stella Maris | ||
| 2007–2009 | Dundalk City | ||
| 2009–2011 | Raheny United | ||
| 2011–2014 | Peamount United | (71) | |
| 2014 | ASPTT Albi | 10 | (1) |
| 2015 | Houston Dash | 2 | (0) |
| 2015–2018 | Sunderland Ladies | 26 | (2) |
| 2018–2020 | C.F. Florentia | 10 | (0) |
| 2020–2022 | Peamount United | ||
| 2022–2024 | Shamrock Rovers Women | ||
| International career‡ | |||
| 2008–2022 | Republic of Ireland | 58 | (14) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 12 July 2020 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 6 September 2022 | |||
Stephanie Zambra (née Roche; born 13 June 1989) is an Irish retiredfootballer who played as astriker forShamrock Rovers of Dublin and theRepublic of Ireland women's national football team. Her October 2013 goal in theWomen's National League (WNL) for Peamount United was the runner-up for the 2014FIFA Puskás Award for the best goal of the year.
At club level Zambra played for various clubs in her native Ireland, including a successful three-year period at Peamount United from 2011 to 2014. She had short spells withDivision 1 Féminine teamASPTT Albi in 2014 andNational Women's Soccer League clubHouston Dash in 2015. A longer stint atFA WSL clubSunderland from 2015 to 2018 was interrupted by injury and illness, before she spent a year in Italy withFlorentia in 2018 and 2019. She joined Peamount United for a second time in February 2020. In December 2022, she joined newly re-formedShamrock Rovers ahead of the 2023 season.
After winning her first seniorcap in October 2008, Zambra has made over 50 appearances for theRepublic of Ireland national team. She was absent for almost two years after breaking her leg in during Ireland's failed2019 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification campaign, but was recalled in August 2019.
Zambra stated in February 2020 that she enjoyed very goodluck when her famous goal opened up wider opportunities for her, but that much of her subsequent football career has been plagued by correspondingly bad luck.[3] She has worked forRTÉ as a televisionpundit, covering events including the2018 and2022 editions of theFIFA World Cup,[4] andUEFA Euro 2020.[5]
Zambra began playingfootball with the boys on the streets of her nativeShankill. After a brief spell with Valeview Shankill FC was curtailed by rules against mixed-gender football, Zambra turned out forCabinteely Girls.[6] She progressed to playing forStella Maris, where she struck up a forward partnership withÁine O'Gorman in the club's Under-18 team.[7]
In 2008 Zambra was awarded aFootball Association of Ireland (FAI) scholarship to Sallynoggin College.[8] She was named in an Irish Colleges team which travelled to Scotland for twofriendlies in April 2009.[9]
In June 2007, Zambra moved toDundalk City and reportedly enjoyed a "dream debut", scoring twice in a 5–2 win overBenfica.[10] After moving on toRaheny United, Zambra went on trial with EnglishFA WSL clubDoncaster Rovers Belles in February 2011, playing in a 4–0 friendly win overBlackburn Rovers.[11]
In the inaugural2011–12 Women's National League season, Zambra won the Golden Boot by scoring 26 goals for champions Peamount United.[12] She formed a "devastating" striking partnership with Player of the YearSara Lawlor.[13] Zambra also scored the winner in the WNL Cup final to secure adouble.[14] In August 2011, Zambra played forPeamount United in the2011–12 UEFA Women's Champions League.[15] Following Peamount's elimination byParis Saint-Germain Féminine, Zambra rejected a transfer offer fromFC Vendenheim.[16] She recaptured the league Golden Boot from team-mate Lawlor in the2013–14 Women's National League campaign.[17]
Zambra scored an acclaimed goal for Peamount againstWexford Youths in October 2013 which wentviral onYouTube and brought her international attention.[18][19] It was her first goal of the WNL season and was uploaded to the internet by team managerEileen Gleeson as the matches were not televised.[20] Zambra was glad it was captured for posterity: "It's just good for us now to get that on camera, it gives the Women's National League a bit of publicity as well as girls' football in Ireland, and I'm happy to be a part of that as well."[21]
Later that year she was shortlisted for the 2014FIFA Puskás Award, for the best goal of the year.[22][23] She was the only female player to be nominated. Following an initial public vote, Zambra's goal was nominated as one of three finalists, alongsideJames Rodríguez andRobin van Persie, who had both scored their nominated goals at the2014 FIFA World Cup.[24] She was the sixth female player to be nominated for the award, and the first to rank among the finalists. At the2014 FIFA Ballon d'Or awards ceremony on 12 January 2015, Zambra finished in second place[25] to Rodríguez for the FIFA Puskás Award, with 33% of the vote.[26][27]
In June 2014, Zambra signed fornewly promotedDivision 1 Féminine teamASPTT Albi.[28] She failed to settle in France, scoring once in ten appearances[2] before quitting the club amidst the FIFA Puskás Award publicity. Albi manager David Welferinger said: "This departure is linked to what is happening to her at the moment. She has been in high demand in recent weeks. I understand her decision even if it's sad."[29] Zambra later explained that she was on an unfeasibly low salary in France having negotiated her own contract. She was particularly exasperated when the team failed to communicate the travel arrangements for a friendly match and departed with Zambra left behind.[30] The "final straw" arrived when the team were made to wear revealing outfits for a promotional photo shoot.[31]
On 18 February 2015 Zambra signed with theHouston Dash.[32] Dash coachRandy Waldrum hailed Zambra as: "possibly the best goalscorer to come out of Ireland sinceOlivia O'Toole". After making only two briefsubstitute appearances in theNational Women's Soccer League, Zambra was waived by the Houston Dash on 20 May 2015.[33] Zambra was "shocked and disappointed" to be discarded three months into her one-year contract, but understood the club's reasoning. Although he was satisfied with Zambra's progress, Waldrum urgently needed to improve the team's defence. He had to release Zambra to free up an international slot and roster space for defensive reinforcementsCamila Martins Pereira andEllie Brush.[34][35]
Zambra signed a two-year deal withFA WSL clubSunderland A.F.C. Ladies on 17 June 2015.[36] Her appearances in the2016 FA WSL season were curtailed by illness, when she developed an abscess in her throat which ultimately required atonsillectomy.[37] She sustained a broken leg while on international duty in September 2017 and was released from her Sunderland contract in Summer 2018, when the club failed to secure a license for the top two tiers ofwomen's football in England. At Sunderland Zambra was often played out of position as awing-back, which she did not enjoy.[38]
They promised me the sun, moon and stars but let's just say it wasn't what it was cracked up to be. I had issues on and off the field. It was a nightmare.
Zambra agreed a transfer to ItalianSerie A clubC.F. Florentia in November 2018.[40] An ankle injury derailed her early progress[41] and she started just one of her four appearances in the remainder of the2018–19 Serie A season. For2019–20 the club relocated fromFlorence toSan Gimignano. The new campaign looked promising for Zambra when she scored eight goals inpre-season, but she failed to register a goal in seven competitive league and cup appearances.[42]
She grew increasingly disillusioned with aspects of her time at the club and decided to leave after one year: "I don't want to talk bad about the club or anything - I finished on good terms - but there was a lot of stuff that didn't go the way I wanted it to go. And I came to the realisation that it wasn't for me."[43] Zambra later explained that she had not been paid in accordance with her contract and as of October 2021 was still owed two months' wages by Florentia.[44]
In February 2020 Zambra re-signed for Peamount United.[45] In moving back to the Women's National League she wanted to be closer to her friends and family, to plan for her career after football and to win back her national team place.[3] When the delayed2020 Women's National League season started she was disrupted by a cracked rib and then a calf injury.[46] She also missed theUEFA Women's Champions League fixture againstGlasgow City in November 2020, undercontact tracing rules.[38] A consistent run of games at the end of the season saw a return to form for Zambra, who scored twice and was named Player of the Match in Peamount's 6–02020 FAI Women's Cup Final win overCork City.[46][47]
Zambra's appearance on thereality television showSpecial Forces: Ultimate Hell Week disrupted her preparations for the2021 Women's National League season. Although she scored nine goals in 26 appearances, tiredness and minor injuries continued to reduce her effectiveness as Peamount lost their WNL title toShelbourne on the final day.[48] Nevertheless, Peamount manager James O'Callaghan was pleased when Zambra agreed to return for the2022 Women's National League season, rejecting transfer offers fromDLR Waves andBohemians.[48] Zambra began the new season in top form, scoring four goals in five games and being named WNL Player of the Month for March 2022.[49] She finished the season with 16 goals, as Peamount came third in the table behindShelbourne andAthlone Town.[50]
On 8 December 2022, it was announced that Zambra would be joining the newly reformed Shamrock Rovers women's team ahead of the 2023 season, following other former Peamount playersÁine O'Gorman and Summer Lawless to the Tallaght outfit.[51] Zambra faced a demanding schedule as she had agreed to participate inthe sixth season ofDancing with the Stars alongside training with her new club.[52] She also announced her intention to play football under her married name, Stephanie Zambra, from the start of the 2023 season.[53]
Zambra announced her retirement from professional football on 10 October 2024.[54][55][56]
Zambra represented theRepublic of Ireland at the youth level, saying: "I just missed out in the final trials for Ireland under 15s and I was really heartbroken. But then I made the team atunder 17s."[6] In August 2005, she scored the winning goal on herunder 19 debut, securing a 3–2 win overFinland atRichmond Park.[57] In three seasons at the under-19 level, Zambra remained a regular pick and was the team's top-goalscorer.[58]
Zambra's senior international debut came in a 3–0UEFA Women's Euro 2009 qualifying play-off defeat byIceland in October 2008.[59] She replacedStef Curtis for the last five minutes of the match atLaugardalsvöllur.[60] In September 2009, Zambra scored her first senior goal, a late winner in the 2–1World Cup qualifying win overKazakhstan atTurners Cross.[61] In the following month's return fixture, Roche made her first start for the Irish senior team. She scored again, theequaliser in another 2–1 win for Ireland.[62] Zambra scored her third goal for Ireland during a homefriendly defeat byFrance in March 2010. Despite her equaliser, a controversial penalty fromSonia Bompastor andMarie-Laure Delie's late winner gave the French victory.[63]
National coachSusan Ronan dropped Zambra from the squad for a friendly withAustria in June 2013 and the subsequent2015 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifiers. This left her disappointed but keen to win back her place: "I was dropped against Austria and wasn't told why or what the story was. I've played for the last few years so it hurt me to be let go while not knowing what was happening so I'd love to get back in again."[64] After Zambra re-discovered her goal-scoring form at the club level, Ronan re-called her in October 2013.[65]
On 5 April 2014 in a2015 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifier againstGermany atTallaght Stadium, Zambra equalised the game at 2–2 in the 89th minute. But Ireland lost 3–2 whenMelanie Leupolz scored in injury time.[66] In the penultimate qualifier Zambra scored an injury time goal of her own to secure a 1–0 victory overSlovakia inSenec on 13 September 2014.[67]
Zambra continued to be selected by Sue Ronan for Ireland'sUEFA Women's Euro 2017 qualifying Group 2 fixtures. In June 2016 Zambra scored ahat-trick in Ireland's 9–0 win overMontenegro.[68] That brought her tally to four goals in four days, as she had scored Ireland's consolation as they were beaten 4–1 by Finland inValkeakoski.[69] When Ronan decided to step down as national team coach, Zambra scored a "stunning 25-yard free-kick" in her farewell match, a 2–1 win over theBasque Country at Tallaght Stadium on 26 November 2016.[70]
Under Ronan's successorColin Bell, Zambra maintained her national team place. She scored in Bell's first game in charge, a 2–0 win over theCzech Republic at the2017 Cyprus Cup on 1 March 2017.[71] The following month, Zambra was among a delegation of 13 players who secured substantially improved working conditions for Ireland's female national team players, following a protracted dispute with theFootball Association of Ireland.[72][73] She then scored the only goal from apenalty kick as Ireland beat Slovakia in a friendly match which had been at risk of cancellation due to the dispute.[74]
In Ireland's opening2019 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifier, a 2–0 win overNorthern Ireland inLurgan, Zambra suffered a broken tibia. She returned to training in January 2018 but experienced knee pain when kicking the ball, then further scans detected another fracture andmeniscus damage.[75] In February 2019 Zambra expressed annoyance at a newspaper report which incorrectly stated she had retired from international football: "I'm not after retiring, I'm just injured like!"[41]
Ireland'sinterim manager Tom O'Connor recalled Zambra after almost two years for the openingUEFA Women's Euro 2022 qualifier against Montenegro at Tallaght Stadium on 3 September 2019.[76] Zambra appeared as a late substitute in Ireland's 1–1 draw inGreece on 12 November 2019, but was then left out by new head coachVera Pauw for the double-header against Greece and Montenegro in March 2020.[77] WhenHeather Payne was injured in the first match, Zambra was called up as her replacement for the fixture in Montenegro.[78]
Following an injury toKyra Carusa, Pauw recalled Zambra in June 2022 for a friendly against thePhilippines inAntalya, Turkey, and a2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification – UEFA Group A fixture againstGeorgia. Zambra had continued to attend training sessions throughout her exile from the national team and was praised by Pauw for her professionalism.[79][80] In Ireland's 1–0 win over the Philippines Zambra started her first national team game since 2017.[81]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Republic of Ireland | 2008 | 1 | 0 |
| 2009 | 4 | 2 | |
| 2010 | 6 | 1 | |
| 2011 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2013 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2014 | 10 | 3 | |
| 2015 | 8 | 1 | |
| 2016 | 7 | 5 | |
| 2017 | 6 | 2 | |
| 2019 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2022 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 58 | 14 | |
| No. | Cap | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 24 September 2009 | Turners Cross,Cork |  Kazakhstan | 2-1 | 2-1 | 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup Qual. | [82] |
| 2 | 5 | 29 October 2009 | Zhetysu Stadium,Taldykorgan | Kazakhstan | 1-1 | 2-1 | [83] | |
| 3 | 6 | 25 February 2010 | Richmond Park,Dublin |  France | 1-1 | 1-2 | Friendly | [84] |
| 4 | 28 | 10 March 2014 | Tasos Markou,Paralimni |  Switzerland | 2-1 | 2-1 | 2014 Cyprus Women's Cup | [85] |
| 5 | 29 | 5 April 2014 | Tallaght Stadium,Dublin |  Germany | 2-2 | 2-3 | 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup Qual. | [86] |
| 6 | 34 | 13 September 2014 | NTC Senec,Senec |  Slovakia | 1-0 | 1-0 | [87] | |
| 7 | 38 | 11 March 2015 | Valbruna,Rovinj |  Costa Rica | 1-0 | 2-1 | 2015 Istria Cup | [88] |
| 8 | 45 | 7 April 2016 | Stadion pod Malim brdom,Petrovac |  Montenegro | 5-0 | 5-0 | 2017 UEFA Women's Championship Qual. | [89] |
| 9 | 47 | 3 June 2016 | Tehtaan kenttä,Valkeakoski |  Finland | 1-3 | 1-4 | [90] | |
| 10 | 48 | 7 June 2016 | Tallaght Stadium,Dublin | Montenegro | 3-0 | 9-0 | [91] | |
| 11 | 7-0 | |||||||
| 12 | 8-0 | |||||||
| 13 | 51 | 1 March 2017 | Tasos Markou,Paralimni |  Czech Republic | 2-0 | 2-0 | 2017 Cyprus Women's Cup | [92] |
| 14 | 55 | 10 April 2017 | Tallaght Stadium,Dublin |  Slovenia | 1-0 | 1-0 | Friendly | [93] |
At the time of her famous goal in October 2013, Zambra had been in a relationship with footballer Dean Zambra for almost seven years.[94] She was anintern on theFootball Association of Ireland's (FAI)Futsal project.[95] She is a self-describedManchester United supporter.[16] Stephanie and Dean were married in June 2022, after 15 years together.[96]
Peamount United
Individual
