Oct 10,2024
Shamrock Rovers' Stephanie Zambra has announced her imminent retirement from professional football at the age of 35, with her last appearance set to come in the club's SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division finale against Shelbourne at Tallaght Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Zambra began her career with Stella Maris, moving on to Dundalk City and Raheny United, prior to a memorable three-year spell at Peamount United from 2011 to 2014.
In her first season with the club, the forward found the net 26 times to win the Golden Boot as Peamount secured a league and cup double, with Zamrbra scoring the only goal in the final of the latter competition against Shamrock Rovers.
Her goal for Peamount against Wexford Youths in 2013 catapulted her to international fame, with the traction the strike generated seeing her shortlisted for the 2014 FIFA Puskas Award alongside such luminaries as James Rodriguez and Robin van Persie. Zambra went on to place second behind the Colombian with 33% of the vote.
Stints abroad with ASPTT Albi, Houston Dash, Sunderland and Fiorentina followed, with Zambra returning to Irish soil for another spell with Peamount in 2020 before joining Rovers in 2022.
Zambra made the last of her 58 appearances for the Republic of Ireland in a career which lasted almost 14 years in June 2022 and finished with 14 goals for the Girls in Green.
