Eva Mangan becomes first ever women’s player to sign professional contract at Cork City

The talented attacking midfielder, who previously had trials at Liverpool, Newcastle and Charlton, put pen to paper on a long-term deal at the club’s Bishopstown Training Ground on Wednesday.

PRO EVA: Cork City have confirmed that Eva Mangan has become the first women’s player to sign a professional contract with the club. Pic: Ben McShane/Sportsfile.

Cork City have confirmed that Eva Mangan has become the first women’s player to sign a professional contract with the club.

The talented attacking midfielder, who previously had trials at Liverpool, Newcastle and Charlton and has trained with the Ireland senior squad, put pen to paper on a long-term deal at the club’s Bishopstown Training Ground on Wednesday.

“I’m delighted, absolutely over the moon," the 21-year-old told the club's website.

"I grew up here, I have been at the club for several years now and it is a very proud moment for me and my family to have signed my first professional contract.

"Since Derek (Coughlan) has come in, he’s been absolutely brilliant with us. As everyone knows, he bleeds Cork City; he is very infectious that way.

"He’s built a great camp since he has been in and, when you are enjoying things, that is when you play your best football, so we are all really enjoying things at the moment.

“For the rest of this season, we want to take things game-by-game and do the best we can, both as a team and individually, to get as far up the table as we can. Long-term, we want to get up into the top half of the table and challenge for honours.

"We have a really good squad and, hopefully, we will have a few more additions to help us continue improving.”

City’s Women’s First Team Manager, Derek Coughlan added: “I am absolutely thrilled that Eva has signed a long-term contract with the club.

"It was our number one priority when I took the role to ensure that Eva was with us to lead this young talented group of players into the future and I'm delighted that the club has made this happen.

“Eva is fast approaching 150 appearances for the club and she is still only 21 years of age. She has become one of the top players in the country and she has achieved this in a side that hasn't been winning many games.

"Eva is a shining light to all the young players in Cork and I'm excited to see where her career goes next, as I believe she is only getting started. We have a really great bunch of high potential, young Cork girls, who desperately want to do well for this club, and all of our focus is on giving them the platform to maximise their potential."

Cork City Director of Football Liam Kearney said: “I am really pleased that Eva has become the first women’s player at Cork City to sign a professional contract.

"She is our captain, she has been a huge player for the club for a number of seasons now, even at the young age that she is. She has grown into a real leader within the group and she is fully deserving of this contract.”