Arsenal Women and Ireland Women star Katie McCabe spoke to Squawka about her career so far.
The 30-year-old opened up on what made her fall in love with football and the early stages, including making the first move to Arsenal. She went into detail on her struggles, position change and winning the Champions League.
McCabe also spoke about the honour of leading Ireland out at the 2023 Women’s World Cup and being named captain at an early age.
At what point did you see football as a possible career, or at least something to do semi/fully professionally?
I think obviously for me going back, it was all men’s football. My older brother played football, so I was inspired by him. He was so passionate about it. And then he and my dad actually kind of introduced me to football at a really young age. Ever since then I was always into football kits and whatnot. I’d never let my mum put me in girly clothes or anything like that. It was always about football.
I think from my parents, seeing the passion I had at such an early age, they supported me through that journey. But in terms of seeing it as a possible career, it probably wasn’t until I entered my mid-teens and got introduced to the international setups. I was playing with Ireland from the age of 13 in the under-15s team, and then with that you learn about players that are playing in the senior team. And I learned about Emma Byrne and Ciara Grant, really amazing international players for Ireland. And I also heard that they played for Arsenal as well.
So I think I must have been about 13 or 14 when my dad was like ‘well why don’t you watch an FA Cup final?’, and I was like ‘who’s playing?’. I was thinking it’s the men but it was actually Arsenal’s women’s team playing I think either Everton or Charlton. And I was thinking, one, Arsenal have a team, I was never aware of that. And two, they’re playing on the television. And it was that one fixture that was probably on the TV once a year. But that was really early. And one when I saw that, with Emma playing in those games, I was like ‘wow, this could actually be an opportunity to go there, or get across to England and play professionally one day’.
When the possibility of a move out of Ireland came, you had big decisions to make. What made you pick Arsenal as your next club?
I think, for me, one was that I looked up to Emma Byrne massively as a player, and as captain in the international team when I broke through to the senior team, I was 18, 19, and I was just in awe of these players that were playing at the highest level. And it was something I was jealous of because I really wanted to do that, and I’d wrack their heads about what it’s like training, what it’s like playing for them. I’d ask them all the questions, they’d still tell you that now. I was quite cheeky with that but I wanted to know because I wanted to get there.
I think when opportunities came about for me to go across, Arsenal always stood out because, for me, the history of the club, how long they’ve been in the game, the vision they had to build, the level of the facilities as well, and the professionalism around the whole club. Even on my first visit, you could feel it, there was like a feeling going into the place. I think that was the main thing that stood out, that feeling when I went over there. And you could also see in the squads, you could see they were really serious about developing players as well, always competing at the top, always winning things. For me personally it just felt like the right challenge to go in and learn from such legends, and the best place to grow.
You’ve previously spoken about your struggles in the early stages of your time in Arsenal. What helped you get through it to reach the stage you are now to become a legend of the club?
I think I had a good support system around me. The start was really tough with a new environment, a new country, and really, really high standards. Like you’re sitting in a dressing room as a kid with legends of the game all around you, and you’re trying to compete with them and take their shirt. Look at where I’m at now, it was so important for me at that early stage to definitely get out of my comfort zone and soak in as much as I could at the time. As much as I wanted to be playing, I needed to learn and understand what it was to wear the Arsenal shirt and make sure I was playing at the highest level possible.
At the same time, I trusted the process with it as well, listening to coaches and players that I knew had been in that position before. And they knew what it was to achieve things. So, for me, it was about learning from them and just working as much as I could every day.
BetMGM sign-up offer: Get £40 in bonuses when you bet £10
Not signed up to BetMGM yet? Here's how eligible readers* can take advantage of their welcome offer:
- Open an account at BetMGM using this link.
- Select the Sports Welcome Offer.
- Get the offer from the ‘My Offers’ page.
- Deposit and place a £10 bet at odds of 1/1 (2.0) or greater.
- When it settles, unlock £40 in bonuses
New customers only. 7 days to place qualifying bet of £10 at 1/1 (2.0) to receive 4 x £10 Free Bets. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. 18+ GambleAware.org
What were your first thoughts when you found out you’d be shifted to a more defensive role at Arsenal?
It was an interesting conversation that I had with the manager at the time, Joe (Montemurro). One of the things was that we had such great attackers as well in the team. I’m not saying I wasn’t able to compete with it, but it was a conversation we had and felt like my ability in build up phases of the game where you needed to either progress the ball up the pitch with passes through the lines or carrying the ball. And he admired how tactically aware I was with seeing and reading the game. And I think that was where it naturally developed.
I did still make sure I was doing the overlaps and underlaps, and getting up as much as I can because I still know I’m a goal threat in front of goal, whether that’s scoring them or helping the team create opportunities. So he did give me that licence to go, but the manager was really, really open about it. And for me, it’s all about the team, and it’s all about the club and how we are going to be successful. So, for me, if I have to have a position shift for the better of the team, I’d absolutely do that.
How do you think your experience as a winger has helped you at left-back, and the position you play for Arsenal helps in your more attacking role for Ireland?
I think the relationships you have around you, I think as a full-back your relationship with the winger in front of you. I was very blessed at the start of my career when I was an attacking winger. I had Emma Mitchell behind me, who’s an unbelievable servant to the club and for her country Scotland. And she was a great communicator, and when she was doing the communication early to help me position and close passing lanes, it was doing her work for her, so I learned that quite early on.
And that’s the thing about learning from the people around you at a young age, you take what into the rest of your career. And for me, now, I’ve got a great relationship with our wingers Caitlin (Foord), Chloe (Kelly), Beth (Mead) and obviously Liv (Smith) coming in in the summer as well. And Liv is such a young player, so that’s where I want to really help her understand those defensive responsibilities as well.
How do you think being named Ireland captain at such a young age helped with your growth as a player?
I think it was big boots to fill with Emma Byrne obviously retiring. So with that there was a bit of ‘Can I do this role?’ There was a bit of questioning myself. Because I’d never been captain of a team before. But being a captain, you learn about responsibility, communication and you learn how to help others perform at their best. And I think all of that made me a bit more of a rounded player from a young age, and I took that role quite seriously. And saying that, I had fantastic senior players in the team as well, in Niamh Fahey, Louise Quinn, Denise O’Sullivan, who’s still on the team, Diane Caldwell. They were unbelievable senior players to have around me at that time who helped me really grow into the role.
Last year was a pretty special one. What did it feel like to win the Champions League? Where does it rank among your proudest moments as a player?
I mean, it’s definitely up there! When I’m playing, I kind of have all my Ireland achievements and then my club [separate]. But with Arsenal it’s definitely up there at the top. It was incredible. It’s something as a young kid playing in Ireland I absolutely dreamed of achieving. It was one of the first things you see when you walk into the club, the players of the past winning that Champions League trophy.
And it’s something we’ve been working for, so to see all that hard work pay off was so rewarding for the whole team, and staff, and the club and the fans. And it was a long campaign because I obviously played the most minutes in the squad during that run. And it’s something I’ve been very proud of as well, because I take a lot of pride in how I perform, how I recover and to be able to say that as well is really cool.
How did it feel to lead Ireland out at the World Cup in 2023?
It was incredible. It felt like walking out in Ireland because there were so many Irish fans there! It was honestly an incredible honour, walking out knowing the world’s watching, it was the opening game. What it meant for all my teammates, for people back home in Ireland, people in the stadium and having my parents there as well was really, really special.
And with us, as a nation we’re always so proud, and we leave it all out there. But I think the big thing for us as well was making sure we were going to inspire more girls to play back home. And for them to know there’s a place for them if they do want to be a professional footballer one day. There’s a lot of things connected to the game of football, but I think inspiring that next generation was really important for us as a group.
Tote sign-up offer: Bet £10, get £30 in free bets
Not signed up to Tote yet? Here's how eligible readers* can take advantage of their welcome offer:
- Open an account at Tote using this link.
- Use code B10G40 on registration.
- Deposit and place a £10 bet on sports or racing at 1/1 or greater.
- When it settles, unlock £30 in free bets
#AD 18+ New customers online only. Eligibility restrictions apply. Bet min of £/€10 at odds of 1/1 (2.0) or greater across sports or racing (if EW then min £/€10 Win + £/€10 Place) within 7 days of registration. Receive £/€20 Tote Credit and £/€10 Free Sports Bet. Qualifying bet is the first racing pool or sports bet added to the bet slip. 7-day expiry. Full T&Cs apply. Gambleaware.org.
Over the years you have built a reputation for playing with passion and ferocity on the pitch. Does it take much to get you motivated, over 10 years into your career?
No, not really to be honest. I’m competitive by nature, I absolutely love winning and hate losing. And I love the challenges that we’re set, and the WSL has grown and is getting better each year I’ve been playing for Arsenal. So for me, every game, every training session, there’s always something to prove to yourself and your teammates. Ten years, that fire doesn’t go away. I think I’m wired a bit different, which is why I’ve probably played at the highest level for so long. But it’s a mentality thing as well. You need to obviously be prepared for those hard moments in games, and you have to make sure you’re switched on for every second, every minute of the game. I’d like to say I have that drive and commitment to make sure I’m doing my job.
As women’s football has grown over the past five or so years, there is a much bigger spotlight on you as players. Do you think this has changed the way you are, both on and off the pitch?
Yeah of course, there’s definitely a lot more attention now. But for me I try not to let it change who I am on the pitch. I’m still the same player, competitive, focused and I’m always ready to work hard. And off the pitch it’s all about me being responsible and using my platform positively. Because I know young girls are watching what I do, how I train, how I recover. So you need to make sure you’re aware of that and are being responsible with it as well.
Bet £10 & Get £30 in Free Bets with Bet365
Not signed up to bet365 yet? Here's how to claim one of the best bookmaker welcome offers around...
- Open an account (here's a link)
- Make a qualifying deposit of between £5* and £10*
- Claim the offer to receive three times your deposit in 'Free Bets'.
- To release your 'Free Bets', place qualifying bets to the value of your qualifying deposit and allow those bets to settle.
- Your 'Free Bets' will become available shortly after your qualifying bets have settled
- To use your 'Free Bets', select 'Use bet credits' in the bet slip.
Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply.
What are your hopes for the rest of the season at Arsenal? You’ve obviously got some big matches coming up in the defence of your Women’s Champions League crown.
We want to keep pushing, we want to compete for every trophy we’re in for. Obviously there’s the new Champions Cup now coming up towards the end of the month. For us, obviously the Champions League is huge, but every game is important. Like I said, when you’re wearing an Arsenal shirt, you need to make sure you’re in for all trophies. We’re taking it game by game, we’re focusing on the process. Obviously it wasn’t the result we wanted last weekend, but we have to keep focusing on the positives, what we’re doing right, and tweaking where we can improve and keep building that momentum and belief as a team, because it’s a massive second half to the season.
And what about long term, for both club and country?
I want to keep challenging myself first and foremost. I want to win more, help the teams I play for, which is winning trophies. And for Ireland, it’s qualifying for major tournaments. We’ve got a massive World Cup qualification campaign coming up against some big names. It’s exciting. It’s one I’m feeling good and ready for, and I’m really excited for the next few years.