Ward hands Filis first Republic of Ireland call-up
New Republic of Ireland manager Carla Ward has included Melisa Filis in her squad for this month's Nations League B double-header.Charlton Athletic midfielder Filis qualifies through her Mayo-born mother and has been called up for the first time after receiving international clearance from Fifa.Ward is without a host of experienced players for her first panel with the quintet of Lily Agg, Jamie Finn, Jess Ziu, Louise Quinn and Tara O'Hanlon all unavailable, while Niamh Fahey, Diane Caldwell and Julie-Ann Russell have retired from international football since the side's last outing.Former Aston Villa manager Ward, 41, replaced Eileen Gleeson last month and has signed a contract through to the 2027 World Cup.Gleeson's contract was not renewed by the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) following the team's defeat by Wales in December's Euro 2025 play-off that saw them miss out on place at this year's finals in Switzerland.Ward's first game in charge will be at home against Turkey on 21 February before they travel to Slovenia four days later.
Ward also finalised her coaching team this week with Amber Whiteley coming in as an assistant coach to add to a group that already includes assistant head coach Alan Mahon and goalkeeping coach Emma Byrne. "I'm delighted to bring this group of talented professionals and brilliant people together to work with our players for what will be an exciting Uefa Nations League campaign that then leads us into the qualifiers for the 2027 Fifa Women's World Cup," Ward told the FAI's website."We will only succeed if we work together as a team, on and off the pitch, and everyone is already playing their part in preparing us for the opening games."
Republic of Ireland squad
Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Sophie Whitehouse (Charlton Athletic), Grace Moloney (Unattached)Defenders: Heather Payne (Everton), Jessie Stapleton (Sunderland – on loan from West Ham United), Anna Patten (Aston Villa), Aoife Mannion (Manchester United), Caitlin Hayes (Brighton & Hove Albion), Megan Campbell (London City Lionesses), Katie McCabe (Arsenal) Midfielders: Denise O'Sullivan (North Carolina Courage), Megan Connolly (Lazio), Tyler Toland (Blackburn Rovers), Ruesha Littlejohn (Unattached), Marissa Sheva (Unattached), Melisa Filis (Charlton Athletic)Forwards: Leanne Kiernan (Liverpool), Kyra Carusa (San Diego Wave), Abbie Larkin (Crystal Palace), Amber Barrett (Standard Liege), Izzy Atkinson (Crystal Palace), Lucy Quinn (Birmingham City), Emily Murphy (Newcastle United)
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