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Megan Campbell

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Megan Campbell
FSU defender Megan Campbell in September 2015
Personal information
Date of birth (1993-06-28) 28 June 1993 (age 31)
Place of birth Drogheda, Ireland
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Centre back, left back
Team information
Current team
 London City Lionesses
Number 6
Youth career
Grove Rangers
Boyne Rovers
Moneymore
Shelbourne
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2015 Florida State Seminoles 60 (4)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2011 St Francis
2011–2013 Raheny United
2016–2021 Manchester City[1] 42 (1)
2021–2023 Liverpool 27 (0)
2023 Everton 0 (0)
2023– London City Lionesses 7 (0)
International career‡
2011– Republic of Ireland 47 (4)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 27 May 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22 February 2023

Megan Campbell (born 28 June 1993) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Women's Championship club London City Lionesses and as a left back & center back for the Republic of Ireland women's national team. She has previously played for St. Francis, Raheny United, Florida State Seminoles, Manchester City and Liverpool. In 2010, she was a member of the Republic of Ireland U-17 squad that were runners-up at the 2010 UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship and quarter-finalists at the 2010 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.[2] Campbell is known as a long throw-in specialist and has been compared to Rory Delap.[3][4]

Early life

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Campbell was born in Drogheda, County Louth and is the daughter of Eamonn and Suzanne Campbell. She is a granddaughter of The Dubliners lead guitarist, Eamonn Campbell. She has three sisters – Jaymee, Dawn and Jade. She grew up on Drogheda's Scarlet Street and was educated at Our Lady's College, Greenhills and at the Institute of Technology, Carlow. She also played youth football with local Drogheda teams – Grove Rangers, Boyne Rovers and Moneymore.[5][6][7][8]

Playing career

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Campbell playing for London City Lionesses in 2024

St Francis

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In 2009, four weeks after turning 16, Campbell came on as a substitute for St Francis in the FAI Women's Cup final against St Catherine's. Her teammates included Grainne Kierans[7] and Mary Waldron. Campbell also played for St Francis in the 2009–10 and 2010–11 UEFA Women's Champions League group stage tournaments.[9][10]

Raheny United

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In 2012–13 Campbell was a member of the Raheny United team that won an FAI Women's Cup and Women's National League double. In October 2012, Raheny United defeated Peamount United 2–1 in the FAI Women's Cup final at Dalymount Park before going on to win the WNL title. Campbell was subsequently named in the 2012–13 WNL Team of the Season. Campbell's teammates at Raheny United included Mary Waldron, Noelle Murray, Ciara Grant and Siobhán Killeen.[11][12]

Florida State Seminoles

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In 2013 Campbell began playing for Florida State Seminoles after obtaining a scholarship to Florida State University, where she majored in social science. In her first three seasons with Florida State she has played in at least 60 games, excluding friendlies, and was credited with 31 assists. Between 2013 and 2015 she helped Florida State win three consecutive ACC titles. In 2014 Campbell was named in the ACC All-Tournament Team and in the 2015 ACC final she scored in the penalty shoot-out against Virginia Cavaliers. In 2013 Florida State were also runners up in the NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship before going on to win the title in 2014.[6] In 2015 Campbell acted as a recruiter for Florida State when she approached fellow Republic of Ireland women's youth international, Megan Connolly, about playing for the Seminoles.[13][14]

Campbell had been described as a senior in Florida State Seminoles' 2014 title-winning season and had been expected to feature in the 2015 NWSL College Draft. But it was discovered she had another year of college eligibility remaining and wished to use that instead.[15] After completing her college career, Campbell was also "noticeably absent" from the 2016 NWSL College Draft.[16]

Manchester City

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Playing for Manchester City in 2017

In February 2016 Campbell became Manchester City's fourth signing of the off-season, announcing that she had signed a professional contract with the English UEFA Women's Champions League contenders.[17][18] She won a domestic treble with the club, then signed a contract extension in June 2017.[19] Campbell had played particularly well in the 2017 FA Women's Cup Final, serving two assists as Manchester City beat Birmingham City 4–1 at Wembley Stadium.[20]

She suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury in November 2017 during a UEFA Women's Champions League match against LSK Kvinner FK and was ruled out for several months.[21] In June 2020 she signed a new one-year contract with Manchester City while recovering from another long-term injury, this time to tendons in her foot.[22]

Liverpool

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In June 2021, Women's Championship club Liverpool signed Campbell, after her five-year spell at Manchester City.[23] She overcame some injury-related absence in the first part of the 2021–22 season to become an important member of the title-winning Liverpool team who won promotion back to the Women's Super League. She signed a new contract with Liverpool in June 2022.[24]

Everton

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On 29 September 2023, Everton signed Campbell on a short-term deal.[25][26]

International career

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Youth

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Megan Campbell playing for Republic of Ireland against United States on 10 May 2015

Campbell has represented the Republic of Ireland at U-17, U-19 and senior level.[27] In 2010 she was a member of the Republic of Ireland U-17 squad that were runners-up in the 2010 UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship and quarter-finalists in the 2010 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.[28] In the UEFA championship, Campbell scored twice: the winner in 2–1 group victory against Sweden[29] and the semi-final goal in the 1–0 win over Germany.[30] In the World Cup, Campbell scored the opening goal in a 3–0 win against Ghana.[31]

Senior

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Campbell played for a senior Republic of Ireland team of home-based players in a behind closed doors match against Northern Ireland. She then won her first official cap in a friendly against Switzerland at Richmond Park in August 2011.[32] Campbell came on as substitute for Louise Quinn after 62 minutes during the 1–0 defeat by the Swiss.[33] On 5 April 2014 in a 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifier against Germany at Tallaght Stadium, Campbell provided two assists with throw-ins. Despite Campbell's effort the Republic of Ireland lost 3–2.[4]

After a two-year absence due to injuries, Campbell was called up to the senior Republic of Ireland squad again in February 2022, for the 2022 Pinatar Cup in Murcia.[34] On 1 September 2022 Campbell started her first competitive national team match for three years in Ireland's play-off-securing 1–0 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification – UEFA Group A win over Finland at Tallaght Stadium.[35] She was not chosen for the squad to participate in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup squad.[36]

International

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Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Republic of Ireland 2011 4 0
2012 8 0
2013 7 1
2014 7 0
2015 7 1
2016 2 0
2017 4 1
2019 3 0
2022 4 1
2023 1 0
Total 47 4

International goals

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Scores and results list Republic of Ireland's goals first. Score column indicates score after each Campbell goal. Updated as of 5 May 2023.
International goals scored by Megan Campbell
No. Cap Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
1 13 6 March 2013 Tasos Markou, Paralimni  Northern Ireland 301 5-1 2013 Cyprus Cup [37]
2 28 11 March 2015 Valbruna, Rovinj  Costa Rica 2-0 2-1 2015 Istria Cup [38]
3 38 19 September 2017 Mourneview Park, Lurgan  Northern Ireland 2-0 2-0 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup UEFA qual. Group 3 [39]
4 46 14 November 2022 Estadio Municipal de Marbella, Marbella  Morocco 1-0 4-0 Friendly [40]

Playing style

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According to her Liverpool manager Matt Beard, Campbell is an adaptable left-sided defensive player: "Meg offers a bit of versatility as she can play centre-back or left-back".[23] Throughout her career she has been renowned as a long throw-in specialist: "Fortunately, my arms are quite hyper-mobile and can go further back than the average person".[41] In 2020 Campbell declared that she wanted to be known for more than her exceptionally long throw-ins and persistent injuries.[22]

Honours

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Campbell unleashing her long throw-in, October 2014

Individual

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Team

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Manchester City

St Francis
Raheny United
Florida State Seminoles
Republic of Ireland U-17

References

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  1. ^ Megan Campbell at Soccerway
  2. ^ "Megan Campbell | Football Association of Ireland". www.fai.ie.
  3. ^ "How Florida State's Megan Campbell Throws Opponents For A Loop". ESPN.com. 3 December 2014.
  4. ^ a b "Here's why Megan Campbell is being called the new Rory Delap". www.the42.ie. 8 April 2014. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  5. ^ "Soccer Graduates & Former Students". www.itcarlow.ie.
  6. ^ a b c "Megan Campbell at www.seminoles.com". www.seminoles.com. Archived from the original on 17 January 2017. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  7. ^ a b "Local trio help fire St Francis to WFAI Cup glory". www.independent.ie. 29 July 2009. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  8. ^ "Megan Campbell: Throwing down a marker in the Sunshine State". www.theemeraldexiles.com. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
  9. ^ "St. Francis secure first win in UEFA Womens Champions League | Football Association of Ireland". www.fai.ie.
  10. ^ "NK Osijek 3-5 St Francis". RTÉ Sport. 11 August 2010.
  11. ^ "Raheny United 2-1 Peamount United". RTE Sport. 14 October 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  12. ^ a b "2012-13 WNL Award Winners" (PDF). wnl.fai.ie. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 November 2017. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  13. ^ "The Emerald Exiles Campbell and Connolly embark on Seminole's 2015/16 season". The Emerald Exiles.
  14. ^ "AUDIO: Megan Connolly Speaks on Switch to States". Cork's RedFM.
  15. ^ Kassouf, Jeff (9 January 2015). "NWSL releases initial list of draft-eligible players". The Equalizer. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  16. ^ "145 players initially declare for 2016 NWSL Draft". The Equalizer. 6 January 2016. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  17. ^ "Megan Campbell's official bio". Manchester City FC. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
  18. ^ "Manchester City: Megan Campbell joins Women's Super League side". BBC Sport. 15 February 2016. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
  19. ^ Flathers, Tom (20 June 2017). "Megan Campbell signs contract extension". Manchester City F.C. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  20. ^ "Megan Campbell plays her part in Manchester City cup success". Irish Times. 13 May 2017. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  21. ^ McDonnell, Daniel (20 January 2018). "Campbell's rocky road back from injury". Irish Independent. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  22. ^ a b Oatway, Caroline (28 June 2020). "Campbell: I want to be remembered for more than throw-ins and injuries!". Manchester City F.C. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  23. ^ a b Frith, Wilf (24 June 2021). "Liverpool Women sign Megan Campbell". She Kicks. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  24. ^ Frith, Wilf (28 June 2022). "Megan Campbell signs new contract with Liverpool Women". She Kicks. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  25. ^ "Campbell Signs For Everton". www.evertonfc.com. 29 September 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  26. ^ "Megan Campbell: Everton sign former Liverpool defender on short-term deal". BBC Sport. 29 September 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  27. ^ "www.uefa.com".
  28. ^ "List of Players - Republic of Ireland" (PDF). FIFA. 6 September 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  29. ^ "Republic of Ireland-Sweden | Women's Under-17 2010". UEFA.com.
  30. ^ "www.uefa.com".
  31. ^ "FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup - Previous Tournaments". 6 July 2013. Archived from the original on 6 July 2013.
  32. ^ "Campbell all set for senior cap". Drogheda Independent. 24 August 2011. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
  33. ^ "Rep of Ireland Women v Switzerland Women". Extratime.ie. 24 August 2011. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
  34. ^ Slattery, Will (11 February 2022). "Megan Campbell returns as Vera Pauw names Ireland squad for Pinatar Cup". Irish Independent. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  35. ^ Pyne, Anthony (1 September 2022). "Campbell makes first Ireland start in three years". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  36. ^ Pyne, Anthony (28 June 2023). "Mannion, Campbell & Kiernan miss out on World Cup". RTÉ Sport.
  37. ^ "Senior women's team off to a winning start in Cyprus". FAI. 7 March 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  38. ^ "Irish finish Istria Cup with win over Costa Rica". FAI. 11 March 2015. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  39. ^ "Campaign off to a winning start in NI". FAI. 19 September 2017. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  40. ^ "WNT 4-0 Morocco". FAI. 14 November 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  41. ^ Fennessy, Paul (20 September 2017). "Megan Campbell's insanely long throws can help take Ireland's footballers to greater heights". The 42.ie. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
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