Marissa Callaghan Explained

Marissa Callaghan
Birth Date:2 September 1985
Birth Place:Belfast, Northern Ireland
Height:1.65 m
Position:Midfielder
Currentclub:Cliftonville
Youthclubs1:Newington Girls
Years1:2005–
Clubs1:Cliftonville
Nationalyears1:2010–
Nationalteam1:Northern Ireland
Nationalcaps1:72
Nationalgoals1:9
Nationalteam-Update:22:55, 13 July 2022 (UTC)

Marissa Callaghan (born 2 September 1985) is a Northern Irish women's association football player from Belfast, Northern Ireland. She currently plays as a midfielder for Cliftonville Ladies and is the captain of the Northern Ireland women's national football team.[1]

Early career

Callaghan started playing football when she was thirteen for Newington Girls (now known as Cliftonville Ladies).[2] After this, she went to university in the United States on a football scholarship. She returned to Northern Ireland in 2005 and started playing for Cliftonville again. She graduated with an advanced certificate in sports coaching from the University of Ulster in 2017.[3] As a result, she also volunteered as a coach for Cliftonville Ladies.[4] Later she became their academy director.

With Northern Ireland

Callaghan made her international debut for the Northern Ireland women's national under-19 football team in 2002.[5] She made her debut for Northern Ireland in 2010. In 2016, Callaghan was awarded the Northern Ireland Women's Football Association Women's Personality of the Year award. A year later she was the tournament ambassador for the 2017 UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship being held in Northern Ireland.

She captained the Northern Ireland team at Euro 2022.[6]

International goals

Scores and results list Northern Ireland's goal tally first.

No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
4. 9 March 2015 1–0 1–2 2015 Istria Cup
5. 3 June 2016 2–0 4–0 UEFA Women's Euro 2017 qualifying
6. 3–0
7. 13 April 2021 Seaview, Belfast, Northern Ireland 1–0 2–0 UEFA Women's Euro 2022 qualifying play-offs
8. 17 September 2021 Inver Park, Larne, Northern Ireland 1–0 4–0 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification
9. 21 September 2021 Windsor Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland 3–0 4–0

Career

After leaving university, Callaghan started working full-time in 2010 as a women's football community coach. In 2016, Callaghan was selected as a women's football ambassador for the Irish Football Association.[7] Following this, she worked with Northern Ireland national football team captain Steven Davis to promote participation in women's youth football.[8]

Private life

Callaghan is married to her partner Paula and they have one son together.[9]

Notes and References

  1. News: Football star Marissa Callaghan aims to inspire others . Belfast Telegraph . 2017-11-04.
  2. Web site: 2017 UEFA Women's European Championship official programme . UEFA . 2017-11-04.
  3. Web site: Ulster University graduate has her eye on the ball . University of Ulster . 10 July 2017. 2017-11-04.
  4. Web site: Johnny Morton . Marissa Callaghan looking to inspire the next generation after recent graduation . Belfast Live . 2017-07-10 . 2017-11-04.
  5. Web site: FIFA Women's World Cup . Marissa Callaghan . UEFA . 2017-11-04.
  6. Web site: 'Incredible journey': Northern Ireland captain Callaghan upbeat for Euro 2022. 6 July 2022. Guardian. 7 July 2022.
  7. Web site: Women Ambassadors announced . Irish Football Association . 2016-04-26 . 2017-11-04.
  8. Web site: Chris Sherrard . Northern Ireland football captains unite for Electric Ireland campaign . Belfast Live . 2017-05-31 . 2017-11-04.
  9. https://www.l-mag.de/news-1010/das-sind-die-50-lesbischen-stars-der-fussball-em-2022.html L-Mag.de: Das sind die 59 lesbischen Stars der Fussball-EM 2022 (German)