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Niamh Fahey

{{Short description|Irish footballer (born 1987)}}

{{Use Hiberno-English|date=June 2023}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Niamh Fahey

| image = 20241006-Niamh Fahey (cropped).jpg

| caption = Fahey with Liverpool in 2024

| full_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1987|10|13|df=y}}

| birth_place = Galway, Ireland

| height = 1.70m

| position = Defensive midfielder, centre-back

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = Salthill Devon

| years1 = 2000–2008

| clubs1 = Salthill Devon

| caps1 =

| goals1 =

| years2 = 2007

| clubs2 = → Galway (loan)

| caps2 =

| goals2 =

| years3 = 2008–2014

| clubs3 = Arsenal

| caps3 = 73

| goals3 = 2

| years4 = 2015–2017

| clubs4 = Chelsea

| caps4 = 28

| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2017–2018

| clubs5 = Bordeaux

| caps5 = 17

| goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2018–2025

| clubs6 = Liverpool

| caps6 = 92

| goals6 = 5

| nationalyears1 = 2007–2025

| nationalteam1 = Republic of Ireland

| nationalcaps1 = 114

| nationalgoals1 = 1

| pcupdate = 10:04, 11 February 2025 (UTC)

| ntupdate = 12 August 2023

}}

Niamh Fahey ({{IPAc-en|n|i:|v|_|ˈ|f|æ|h|i}} {{respell|neev|_|FA|hee}}; born 13 October 1987) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder or centre-back for Women's Super League{{cite web |title=Reds complete signing of defensive midfielder Fahey |url=http://ladies.liverpoolfc.com/news/reds_complete_signing_of_defensive_midfielder_fahey.html |website=Liverpool Ladies FC |access-date=14 July 2018 |archive-date=14 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180714170941/http://ladies.liverpoolfc.com/news/reds_complete_signing_of_defensive_midfielder_fahey.html |url-status=dead }} club Liverpool, which she captains, and formerly the Republic of Ireland national team. She has previously played for Chelsea. Before joining Chelsea in December 2014, Fahey spent six seasons with Arsenal. She has also won national cups playing Gaelic football with Galway Ladies Football.{{cite web|url=http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=63&Itemid=254|title=Senior Women Player Profiles|publisher=Football Association of Ireland|access-date=13 August 2009|archive-date=11 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411012130/https://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=com_content|url-status=live}} Niamh is the sister of Galway's 2001 All-Ireland-winning Gaelic football captain Gary Fahey.{{cite news |last1=Barry |first1=Brian |title=Niamh Fahey: Liverpool captain and All-Ireland winner with Galway |url=https://www.skysports.com/gaa/gaelic-football/news/30553/12080733/niamh-fahey-liverpool-captain-and-all-ireland-winner-with-galway |access-date=11 December 2021 |publisher=Sky Sports |date=25 September 2020 |archive-date=22 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922060739/https://www.skysports.com/gaa/gaelic-football/news/30553/12080733/niamh-fahey-liverpool-captain-and-all-ireland-winner-with-galway |url-status=live }}

Club career

Fahey began her career with her hometown club, Salthill Devon. She progressed through the ranks alongside future international teammate Méabh De Búrca. Both players helped Galway win the FAI Women's Cup in 2007. In the final against Raheny United, Fahey scored the winning penalty and also subdued the attacking threat of Raheny's Olivia O'Toole, in what RTÉ described as "a splendid individual display."{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2007/1014/ladiesfaicup.html |title=Galway League 1–0 Raheny United |publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann |access-date=7 April 2011 |date=14 October 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204063137/http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2007/1014/ladiesfaicup.html |archive-date= 4 December 2008 }}

She joined Arsenal Ladies in August 2008.{{cite web|url=http://www.arsenal.com/ladies/players/niamh-fahey |title=19. Niamh Fahey |publisher=Arsenal F.C. |access-date=13 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090822070342/http://www.arsenal.com/ladies/players/niamh-fahey |archive-date=22 August 2009 }} In her first season with the Gunners Fahey made 18 appearances, mostly at left full–back, as the club won a domestic treble.{{cite web|url=http://www.thesportreview.com/tsr/2009/08/irish-stars-preparing-for-world-cup-qualifying/|title=Irish stars prepare for World Cup qualifying|publisher=The Sport Review|access-date=7 April 2011|date=24 August 2009|author=Kieran Beckles}}

On 19 December 2014, Fahey signed for Chelsea L.F.C.{{cite web | url=http://www.chelseafc.com/news/latest-news/2014/12/ladies-sign-new-defender.html | title=Ladies sign new defender | work=chelseafc.com | date=19 December 2014 | access-date=19 December 2014 | archive-date=19 December 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219174319/http://www.chelseafc.com/news/latest-news/2014/12/ladies-sign-new-defender.html | url-status=live }}

=Liverpool=

In the summer of 2018, Fahey signed for her lifelong supported club Liverpool where she has been the club captain since 2020. She stayed with the club after they were relegated on a points by points basis in the summer of 2020.{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52977422 | title=Liverpool Women: Niamh Fahey signs new contract with relegated WSL club | work=BBC Sport | date=9 June 2020 | access-date=9 June 2020 | archive-date=19 February 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240219111201/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52977422 | url-status=live }}

In the 2021–22 FA Women's Championship season, Fahey led Liverpool to the FA Women's Championship title winning sixteen out of their twenty two league games, earning their promotion back to the FA Women's Super League. She missed only three games and also scoring two goals during the entirety of the season.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/60976714|title=Liverpool promoted to WSL after clinching Championship title|publisher=BBC Sport|date=3 April 2022|access-date=21 June 2023|archive-date=21 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220921225242/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/60976714|url-status=live}}

After Liverpool finished seventh on their return to the top flight, Fahey then signed a contract extension ahead of the 2023-24 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/women/461000-liverpool-fc-women-captain-niamh-fahey-signs-new-contract|title=Liverpool FC Women captain Niamh Fahey signs new contract|publisher=Liverpool Football Club|date=13 June 2023|access-date=19 Feb 2024|archive-date=19 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240219111201/https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/women/461000-liverpool-fc-women-captain-niamh-fahey-signs-new-contract|url-status=live}}

On 2 May 2025, Fahey announced her retirement from football at the end of the 2024–25 season.{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c2ew0lryp2do | title=Liverpool captain Fahey to retire at end of season | work=BBC Sport | date=2 May 2025 | access-date=2 May 2025 | archive-date=2 May 2025 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250502213838/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c2ew0lryp2do | url-status=live }}

Gaelic football

Fahey won the All-Ireland Ladies Football Championship in 2004 with Galway defeating Dublin by 3–11 to 0–9 [https://ladiesgaelic.ie/galway-ladies-win-in-outstanding-final/ Galway Ladies win in outstanding final] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200802220704/https://ladiesgaelic.ie/galway-ladies-win-in-outstanding-final/|date=2 August 2020}} She also played in the 2005 final for Galway losing to Cork by 1–11 to 0–08.{{Cite web|url=https://ladiesgaelic.ie/mulcahy-shoots-the-rebels-to-historic-title-treble/|title=Mulcahy shoots the rebels to historic title treble|date=3 October 2005|access-date=7 November 2023|archive-date=7 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231107022808/https://ladiesgaelic.ie/mulcahy-shoots-the-rebels-to-historic-title-treble/|url-status=live}} In 2012 she also won the All-Ireland Ladies Intermediate Club Football Championship with London club Parnells defeating Cahir of Tipperary by 2–14 to 1–2.{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/sheridan-kicks-parnells-into-history/28945623.html|title=Sheridan kicks Parnells into history|date=10 December 2012|website=Independent.ie}}

International career

Fahey has won over 100 caps for the Republic of Ireland, having previously represented her country at Under-17 and Under-19 level. In March 2007, Fahey made her senior debut for Ireland in a 1–1 draw with Portugal in the opening match of the Algarve Cup.{{cite web|url=http://www.soccerscene.ie/sswsenior/matchdetails.php?id=430 |title=Portugal 1–1 1 Ireland |publisher=Soccerscene.ie |access-date=3 June 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303203211/http://www.soccerscene.ie/sswsenior/matchdetails.php?id=430 |archive-date=3 March 2016 }} After becoming a regular in the team, Fahey was named FAI Women's Senior International Player of the Year in 2008,{{cite web|title=19th eircom/FAI International Award winners announced |url=http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3984 |publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann |access-date=7 February 2011 |date=8 February 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100811221958/http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3984 |archive-date=11 August 2010 }} 2009{{cite web|title=FAI International Football Award winners announced |url=http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=101142:fai-international-football-award-winners-announced&catid=1:senior-men&Itemid=8 |publisher=FAI.ie |access-date=7 February 2011 |date=8 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100823092537/http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=101142%3Afai-international-football-award-winners-announced&catid=1%3Asenior-men&Itemid=8 |archive-date=23 August 2010 }} and 2011.{{cite web|title=2012 Three FAI International Award Winners Announced |url=http://www.fai.ie/international/senior-men/102385-2012-three-fai-international-award-winners-announced.html |publisher=FAI.ie |access-date=27 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109045046/http://www.fai.ie/international/senior-men/102385-2012-three-fai-international-award-winners-announced.html |archive-date= 9 November 2013 }}

In April 2013, Fahey suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury while playing for Arsenal. The 30 minutes she played for Ireland against the Basque Country in May 2014 was her first game back.{{cite news|last1=Ryan|first1=Seán|title=Fahey hopes for rub of green after return from cruciate injury|url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/fahey-hopes-for-rub-of-green-after-return-from-cruciate-injury-30337206.html|access-date=23 December 2014|work=Irish Independent|date=8 June 2014}}

On 16 February 2022, she played her 100th match for Republic of Ireland in a 2–1 win over Poland in the 2022 Pinatar Cup.{{cite web |url=https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/niamh-fahey-100-caps-and-dream-fa-cup-fixture |title=Niamh Fahey on 100 caps and 'dream' FA Cup fixture |website=Liverpool F.C. |date=26 February 2022 |access-date=31 May 2022 |archive-date=31 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220531122713/https://www.liverpoolfc.com/news/niamh-fahey-100-caps-and-dream-fa-cup-fixture |url-status=live }} She scored her first ever goal for Ireland on the occasion of her 104th cap, in a 9–0 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification – UEFA Group A win over Georgia in Gori on 27 June 2022.{{cite news |last1=Duffy |first1=Emma |title='She's only 17-years-old, but I hope that everybody has seen how talented she is' |url=https://www.the42.ie/abbie-larkin-first-international-senior-goal-5801442-Jun2022/ |access-date=3 July 2022 |publisher=The42.ie |date=28 June 2022 |archive-date=3 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703131338/https://www.the42.ie/abbie-larkin-first-international-senior-goal-5801442-Jun2022/ |url-status=live }}

Personal life

Fahey grew up a life long Liverpool fan and idolised Michael Owen.

{{Blockquote

|text= ‘I was out in the garden, pretending to be Michael Owen. Most of my family are Liverpool supporters, so it was only natural for me.’

}}

During her career, she completed her degree and masters in pharmacology as well as an MBA. Fahey has also started some of her coaching badges.{{cite news |last1=Gallegher |first1=Mark |title='I was in the garden pretending to be Michael Owen' – Niamh Fahey ready to fulfil World Cup dream |url=https://extra.ie/2023/07/16/sport/soccernews/i-was-in-the-garden-pretending-to-be-michael-owen-niamh-fahey-ready-to-fulfil-world-cup-dream |access-date=16 July 2023 |publisher=Extra.ie |date=16 July 2023 |archive-date=16 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230716125551/https://extra.ie/2023/07/16/sport/soccernews/i-was-in-the-garden-pretending-to-be-michael-owen-niamh-fahey-ready-to-fulfil-world-cup-dream |url-status=live }}

Career statistics

=Club=

{{updated|match played 15 December 2024}}{{Cite web|url=https://uk.soccerway.com/players/rachel-williams/59323/|title = England – R. Williams – Profile with news, career statistics and history – Soccerway}}

Some entries may be missing or incomplete due to lack of historical statistics.

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"

|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

rowspan="2"|Club

!rowspan="2"|Season

!colspan="3"|League

!colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes Women's FA Cup, Coupe de France féminine}}

!colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes WSL Cup/Women's League Cup, Women's National League Cup}}

!colspan="2"|Europe{{efn|Includes UEFA Women's Champions League}}

!colspan="2"|Total

DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
rowspan="7"|Arsenal

|2008–09

|Women's Premier League

|16

21030colspan="2"|—202
2009–10

|Women's Premier League

|21

0103060310
2011

|Women's Super League

|13

0100070210
2012

|Women's Super League

|12

0003080230
2013

|Women's Super League

|0

0301061101
2014

|Women's Super League

|11

01051colspan="2"|—171
colspan="2"|Total

!73

2701512711224
rowspan="4"|Chelsea

|2015

|Women's Super League

|14

02030colspan="2"|—190
2016

|Women's Super League

|12

0201040190
2017

|Women's Super League

|2

000002040
colspan="2"|Total

!28

0404060420
Bordeaux

|2017–18

|D1 Féminine

|17

000colspan="2"|—colspan=2|—170
rowspan="8" |Liverpool

|2018–19

|Women's Super League

|17

03031colspan="2"|—231
2019–20

|Women's Super League

|13

02130colspan="2"|—181
2020–21

|Women's Championship

|19

31030colspan="2"|—233
2021–22

|Women's Championship

|19

22030colspan="2"|—242
2022–23

|Women's Super League

|12

01030colspan="2"|—160
2023–24

|Women's Super League

|8

|0

|2

|0

|1

|0

| colspan="2" |—

|11

|0

2024–25

|Women's Super League

|4

|0

|0

|0

|3

|0

| colspan="2" |—

|6

|0

colspan="2" |Total

!92

5111191colspan="2" |—1227
colspan="3" |Career total

!210

722138233130311

{{notelist}}

=International=

class="sortable wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year

scope="col" | National team

!scope="col" | Year

scope="col"| Appsscope="col"| Goals
rowspan="15"|Republic of Ireland

|scope="row"| 2007

70
scope="row"| 2008150
scope="row"| 200950
scope="row"| 201060
scope="row"| 201140
scope="row"| 2012100
scope="row"| 201450
scope="row"| 201590
scope="row"| 201680
scope="row"| 201740
scope="row"| 201870
scope="row"| 201980
scope="row"| 202040
scope="row"| 202170
scope="row"| 202271
colspan="2"|Total1061

:Scores and results list Republic of Ireland's goals first. Score column indicates score after each Fahey goal. Updated as of 5 May 2023.

class="wikitable sortable"

|+International goals scored by Niamh Fahey

scope="col" | {{abbr|No.|Cumulative goals total}}

! scope="col" style="text-align:center;" | Cap

! scope="col" | Date

! scope="col" | Venue

! scope="col" | Opponent

! scope="col" | Score

! scope="col" | Result

! scope="col" | Competition

! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}}

scope="row" | 1

| align=center | 104

| 27 June 2022 || Tengiz Burjanadze Stadium, Gori || {{fbw|GEO}}

| align=center| 2–0

| align=center| 9–0

| 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup Qual. || {{Cite web | url = https://www.fai.ie/ireland/match/39/2023/999947155 | title = Georgia 0–9 WNT | date = 27 June 2022 | access-date = 6 May 2023 | publisher = FAI | archive-date = 5 May 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230505234520/https://www.fai.ie/ireland/match/39/2023/999947155 | url-status = live }}

Honours

:2011, 2012 2015 FA WSL

:2008–09, 2009–10

:2021–22

:2008–09, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–2015

:2011, 2012, 2013

:2008–09, 2014–15

:2004

:2012

References

{{reflist}}

External links

{{Commons category}}

  • [https://www.liverpoolfc.com/team/womens/player/niamh-fahey Niamh Fahey] at Liverpool F.C. Women
  • [https://www.fai.ie/ireland/player/73507 Niamh Fahey] at fai.ie.
  • {{Sports links}}

{{Liverpool F.C. Women squad}}

{{Navboxes

|title= Awards

|bg= gold

|fg= navy

|list1=

{{2015–16 FA WSL PFA Team of the Year}}

{{FAI Women's Senior International Player of the Year}}

{{FAI Under-19 Women's International Player of the Year}}

}}

{{Republic of Ireland squad 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fahey, Niamh}}

Category:1987 births

Category:Living people

Category:Association footballers from County Galway

Category:Republic of Ireland women's association footballers

Category:Arsenal W.F.C. players

Category:Chelsea F.C. Women players

Category:Liverpool F.C. Women players

Category:Republic of Ireland women's international footballers

Category:FA Women's National League players

Category:Expatriate women's footballers in England

Category:Women's Super League players

Category:Salthill Devon F.C. players

Category:Galway W.F.C. players

Category:Galway ladies' Gaelic footballers

Category:Ladies' Gaelic footballers who switched code

Category:Women's association football central defenders

Category:Women's association football midfielders

Category:Expatriate women's footballers in France

Category:Irish expatriate sportspeople in France

Category:Irish expatriate sportspeople in England

Category:Première Ligue players

Category:FC Girondins de Bordeaux (women) players

Category:Republic of Ireland women's youth international footballers

Category:FIFA Women's Century Club

Category:2023 FIFA Women's World Cup players

Category:21st-century Irish sportswomen