Katie McCabe reveals football role model growing up
The Arsenal and Republic of Ireland winger recently lifted the Women's Champions League trophy with Arsenal earlier this year, and is regarded as one of the best players in the Women's Super League and in the country.
Despite her reputation as a fearless winger, Katie spoke about growing up with a lack of female role models in football, saying that growing up, she mostly played with the schoolboys — and as for a football role model, she grew up idolising fellow left wing Dubliner, Damien Duff. View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Nicky Byrne (@nickybyrneinsta)
'There was no role model,' Katie told Westlife singer (and former Leeds United goalkeeper!) Nicky Byrne on his podcast. 'My role model growing up was Damien Duff, I loved him. I loved the left foot — obviously, I'm left footed — he was the left wing, he was number 11; that's what I am now, a women's version. That's what I aspired to be like.'
Katie said that despite the women's game being popular now, it wasn't nearly as popular when she was growing up; with her saying that she followed the men's team for most of her childhood and didn't even know what the women's leagues looked like, with her playing alongside the boys when she was a kid.
'I was always with the boys, just playing football for hours after school,' she said. 'My ambitions when I was young, was looking at teams lift the Champions League trophy — it was always the men's Champions League trophy. I didn't even know what the women's Champions League trophy looked like.' Katie McCabe has opened up about her lack of female football role models growing up, revealing that she was mainly involved with the boys. Pic: INPHO/Jose Breton
Katie eventually found out what the trophy looked like and even got to lift it after Arsenal beat Barcelona in the Women's UCL final; adding 'to do that in May, with Arsenal, a club like that, was unbelievable.'
The winger lifted the UCL trophy with Arsenal back in May, and speaking ahead of the new season for Arsenal and as captain of the Republic of Ireland women's team during their match with Belgium in October, she took issue with the Irish manager Carla Ward's comments that she may be on the verge of burnout following her playing for the country just days after the win.
'I wasn't on the verge of burnout, I could have played three days later,' Katie said. 'I just chose to enjoy the break. It wasn't necessary for me to travel to the USA. But I feel good, I feel great, and I was happy with the decision I took, and I was supported by Carla.' Katie spoke about how she had no real female role models on the sport, playing with the boys and idolising Damien Duff growing up. Pic: Daniela Porcelli /Sportsfile
'It was nice to be able to switch off and refocus, reset and recharge the batteries. I'm now about a week or two into pre-season and ready to get going again. I think it's going to be an exciting year.
'We've got the Champions League trophy to defend and want to keep pushing on all fronts and all competitions with Arsenal. I'm feeling really good and ready to have another big push this year.'
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