Ireland's Emma Byrne to double-job as Southampton assistant

“I'm really excited to be here at Southampton, having spent some time around the squad already I can see the talent we have here is really promising."

Emma Byrne joins a Southampton side eighth in the Championship. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Fri, 14 Feb, 2025 - 19:47

John Fallon

Ireland’s record women’s caps holder Emma Byrne has joined the backroom staff of Championship club Southampton.

The former goalkeeper retired from international football when captaining the team in 2017 with 134 caps and returned to the FAI as part of Eileen Gleeson’s coaching team.

She has been retained as goalkeeping coach by new manager Carla Ward and will double-job on the club circuit.

Byrne, part of the only English team to win the Champions League when Arsenal lifted the 2007 edition, joins with the Saints eighth place in the second tier of the English system.

On joining Remi Allen’s staff, she said: “I'm really excited to be here at Southampton, having spent some time around the squad already I can see the talent we have here is really promising.

"I'm looking forward to working with Remi and the team for what will hopefully be a positive end to the season for us."