Stephanie Roche

Stephanie Zambra (Roche; born 13 June 1989) is an Irish footballer who plays as a striker for Shamrock Rovers of Dublin and the Republic of Ireland women's national football team.

In June 2007, Zambra moved to Dundalk City and reportedly enjoyed a "dream debut", scoring twice in a 5–2 win over Benfica.

After winning her first senior cap in October 2008, Zambra has made over 50 appearances for the Republic of Ireland national team.

In 2008 Zambra was awarded a Football Association of Ireland (FAI) scholarship to Sallynoggin College.

She was named in an Irish Colleges team which travelled to Scotland for two friendlies in April 2009.

At club level Zambra played for various clubs in her native Ireland, including a successful three-year period at Peamount United from 2011 to 2014.

After moving on to Raheny United, Zambra went on trial with English FA WSL club Doncaster Rovers Belles in February 2011, playing in a 4–0 friendly win over Blackburn Rovers.

In the inaugural 2011–12 Women's National League season, Zambra won the Golden Boot by scoring 26 goals for champions Peamount United.

She formed a "devastating" striking partnership with Player of the Year Sara Lawlor.

Zambra also scored the winner in the WNL Cup final to secure a double.

In August 2011, Zambra played for Peamount United in the 2011–12 UEFA Women's Champions League.

Following Peamount's elimination by Paris Saint-Germain Féminine, Zambra rejected a transfer offer from FC Vendenheim.

Her October 2013 goal in the Women's National League (WNL) for Peamount United was the runner-up for the 2014 FIFA Puskás Award for the best goal of the year.

She recaptured the league Golden Boot from team-mate Lawlor in the 2013–14 Women's National League campaign.

Zambra scored an acclaimed goal for Peamount against Wexford Youths in October 2013 which went viral on YouTube and brought her international attention.

It was her first goal of the WNL season and was uploaded to the internet by team manager Eileen Gleeson as the matches were not televised.

Zambra was glad it was captured for posterity: "It's just good for us now to get that on camera, it gives the Women's National League a bit of publicity as well as girls' football in Ireland, and I'm happy to be a part of that as well."

She had short spells with Division 1 Féminine team ASPTT Albi in 2014 and National Women's Soccer League club Houston Dash in 2015.

Later that year she was shortlisted for the 2014 FIFA Puskás Award, for the best goal of the year.

She was the only female player to be nominated.

Following an initial public vote, Zambra's goal was nominated as one of three finalists, alongside James Rodríguez and Robin van Persie, who had both scored their nominated goals at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

She was the sixth female player to be nominated for the award, and the first to rank among the finalists.

In June 2014, Zambra signed for newly promoted Division 1 Féminine team ASPTT Albi.

She failed to settle in France, scoring once in ten appearances before quitting the club amidst the FIFA Puskás Award publicity.

Albi manager David Welferinger said: "This departure is linked to what is happening to her at the moment. She has been in high demand in recent weeks. I understand her decision even if it's sad."

Zambra later explained that she was on an unfeasibly low salary in France having negotiated her own contract.

She was particularly exasperated when the team failed to communicate the travel arrangements for a friendly match and departed with Zambra left behind.

The "final straw" arrived when the team were made to wear revealing outfits for a promotional photo shoot.

A longer stint at FA WSL club Sunderland from 2015 to 2018 was interrupted by injury and illness, before she spent a year in Italy with Florentia in 2018 and 2019.

At the 2014 FIFA Ballon d'Or awards ceremony on 12 January 2015, Zambra finished in second place to Rodríguez for the FIFA Puskás Award, with 33% of the vote.

On 18 February 2015 Zambra signed with the Houston Dash.

Dash coach Randy Waldrum hailed Zambra as: "possibly the best goalscorer to come out of Ireland since Olivia O'Toole".

She has worked for RTÉ as a television pundit, covering events including the 2018 and 2022 editions of the FIFA World Cup, and UEFA Euro 2020.

Zambra began playing football with the boys on the streets of her native Shankill.

After a brief spell with Valeview Shankill FC was curtailed by rules against mixed-gender football, Zambra turned out for Cabinteely Girls.

She progressed to playing for Stella Maris, where she struck up a forward partnership with Áine O'Gorman in the club's Under-18 team.

She was absent for almost two years after breaking her leg in during Ireland's failed 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification campaign, but was recalled in August 2019.

She joined Peamount United for a second time in February 2020.

In December 2022, she joined newly re-formed Shamrock Rovers ahead of the 2023 season.

Zambra stated in February 2020 that she enjoyed very good luck when her famous goal opened up wider opportunities for her, but that much of her subsequent football career has been plagued by correspondingly bad luck.