Heather O'Reilly is a giant in the American footballing arena, having won an Olympic gold medal with the US national team three times, as well as 231 senior caps.
She hung up her boots in 2016, but is now back, coming across the pond to join Shelbourne FC.
Ms O'Relly spoke to The Pat Kenny Show about what prompted her return and the difference between women's football in Ireland and the States.
Having begun playing professionally at just 17 years old, Ms O'Reilly calls herself an "early bloomer".
"I puffed out my chest and I said: 'Well, maybe I do have something left in this tank'."
She admits that a comeback was not planned when she retired six years ago.
"I thought it was over because I was in my mid 30s. My husband and I decided it was time to start a family, so I had two boys - one's two years old, one's eight months old."
However, while taking part in charity matches for Soccer Aid under the management of Arsene Wenger, he encouraged Ms O'Reilly to get back to playing professionally.
@HeatherOReilly made her first start for the Reds in the thrilling 3-2 FAI Cup win over Peamount Utd.
The World Cup winner provided an assist for Jess Gargan’s goal #DublinsFinest | #Since1895 pic.twitter.com/MbaaWbBDnq
— Shelbourne FC (@shelsfc) August 7, 2022
"And so, ever since I heard that from Arsene Wenger, I puffed out my chest and I said: 'Well, maybe I do have something left in this tank'."
"I played my trade over at Arsenal for a year and a half, but we didn't qualify for the Champions League before I got there", she said.
"So it was sort of this one thing that I wanted to do. I looked to see which teams were in it this year."
"Shelburne FC popped off the paper for me."
Irish roots
While born and raised in the United States, Ms O'Reilly, like many Americans, is not without some Irish ancestry - her father's ancestors hailed from County Longford.
"I've always really kind of resonated with the Irish heritage", she said.
"I grew up going to a Catholic school in America and and all that so it's always been hugely important to my family."
Across the pond
Ms O'Reilly described the difference in women's football in Ireland versus America.
"There's been huge gains in the women's game over in the US."
"I've spent the last 15 years as a full professional athlete, and that allows you to do so many things like take care of your body, make sure that you're getting proper recovery and massage and your diet's good -all those things that come with having this as your full time job."
"Many of the players are working during the day or students and we train at night."
She says that in Ireland people are still coming around to the idea of women's football as a profession.
"The league is still continuing to grow."
"Many of the players are working during the day or students and we train at night."
Ms O'Reilly is "having a blast" with her new Irish teammates, although initially they "thought it was hilarious that this American former player would want to come over to Shelbourne".
"I think that they're just happy because they've been women that have been doing this in the shadows for many years, you know, actually literally playing at night in the shadows, and putting in a lot of hard work when nobody notices."
"If I'm able to shine some light on those athletes, that's a pretty cool thing to be able to do."
Main image shows Heather O'Reilly during the Soccer Aid for UNICEF match at The London Stadium. Photo by: PA Images/Alamy
