Advertisement
Louise Quinn with her gold cap to represent 100 appearances for the Republic of Ireland Women's National Team. FAI Media.

'A superb footballer and brilliant person who gives absolutely everything' - 100 not out

Louise Quinn will captain Ireland as she wins her 100th senior cap against Morocco this evening.

LOUISE QUINN HAS been hailed as โ€œa superb footballer and a brilliant personโ€ by Republic of Ireland manager Vera Pauw ahead of her 100th senior cap today.

Defensive stalwart Quinn will lead out the Girls In Green in their international friendly against Morocco [KO 5pm Irish time, live on RTร‰ Player and News Channel] and become the latest Irish womenโ€™s player to be welcomed into the Centurion Club.

Quinn, who made her debut as a late substitute in a friendly win over Poland in February 2008 and has scored 15 goals in 99 appearances to date, joins Emma Byrne (134), Ciara Grant (105) and current team-mates รine Oโ€™Gorman (112) and Niamh Fahey (105) in the 100 club.

The 32-year-old Wicklow native was presented with a gold cap at a special team meeting on Saturday evening in Marbella, with Pauw noting:

โ€œLouise is a superb footballer and a brilliant person. She is someone who gives absolutely everything to her career, to her team-mates and for her country. The fighting spirit that she has is exactly what this Ireland team is all about so it is not a surprise she is a key part of it.

โ€œAny young player wanting to forge a successful career in international football should look to how Louise always makes herself available for every training session and every game, how she is always focused in team meetings with intelligent questions, how she leads on the pitch, how she responds to challenges and set-backs, how she treats every player, staff member and supporter with equal respect and how she appreciates every opportunity that she gets to represent her country.

โ€œThe history books will show that Louise is one of the few players, so far, to reach 100 caps and anyone who knows her can attest to the commitment that she has shown to reach that milestone. We are so happy for Louise to achieve this feat and we are even happier that she continues to be part of our team.โ€

unnamed (2) Quinn receiving her gold cap from Pauw.

Captain Katie McCabe, who hands over the armband for this special occasion, echoed her managerโ€™s words when speaking about Birmingham City skipper Quinn last week.

โ€œHonestly, Louise has been such a rock for us for as long as I have been in the team and as long as I have been going to Tallaght to see the senior team play, such a massive figure within the team, on and off the field,โ€ she beamed.

โ€œSheโ€™s not just a fantastic player but an unbelievable person, having my time with her at Arsenal โ€” we used to kill each other playing for Raheny against Peamount, but at Arsenal I saw another side to Louise, how sheโ€™d do anything for you, put her body on the line for whoever sheโ€™s representing, if thatโ€™s Ireland or Arsenal or Birmingham now.

โ€œTo say sheโ€™s going to be making 100 appearances, she fully deserves it, sheโ€™s been phenomenal, for me off the pitch too. When I got the captainโ€™s armband, at the time I was quite young and I really looked up to Louise to support me in that role, I still do to this day, and I will always be grateful for that, to see her make 100 appearances on Monday, all going well, will be a proud day and I know all her family will be proud of her too.โ€

unnamed (4) Quinn with fellow centurions O'Gorman and fahey. FAI Media. FAI Media.

In a typically-colourful interview with the Irish media on Saturday morning, Quinn took a trip down memory lane ahead of the milestone.

โ€œItโ€™s very rare and a very special occasion,โ€ she smiled.

โ€œEven when I was talking to Niamh about it, [we said] you donโ€™t really think about it when youโ€™re going through your career, but when you start approaching the 90, youโ€™d be like, โ€˜Okay this could be something that Iโ€™d like to achieveโ€™ โ€” that youโ€™ve been able to play for your country for 100 caps and hopefully more.

โ€œIt feels really special โ€” for my family as well, itโ€™s something theyโ€™re very proud of. Theyโ€™re making their way out to Spain today.โ€

Quinn has represented Ireland under five different managers and each of her 15 goals have been scored with her head. She has played her club football in Ireland, Sweden (Eskilstuna United), England (Notts County, Arsenal, and now Birmingham) and Italy (Fiorentina).

FAI TV / YouTube

Close
Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Richard Humphreys
    Favourite Richard Humphreys
    Report
    Feb 24th 2012, 4:54 PM

    Remember reading about his eye trouble a few years ago, hope he makes a quick recovery.

    16
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel