Stephanie Zambra will take charge of Shamrock Rovers Women for the first time tonight as they face Waterford in the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division.
The former Republic of Ireland international was appointed interim head coach following the departure of Collie O’Neill last week.
Zambra, who earned 58 caps and scored 14 goals for Ireland, joined Rovers’ coaching team earlier this year after retiring from playing at the end of the 2024 season.
She had been part of O’Neill’s backroom staff and brings a wealth of experience from a decorated playing career that included domestic titles with Peamount United and spells abroad in France, England, the USA and Italy.
She is a UEFA B Licence holder and has worked with underage national teams as part of the FAI’s coach development pathway.
When she appeared on the Sport for Business podcast two years ago she spoke then of her interest in coaching and developing a plan for after hanging up her boots.
Tonight’s match at Tallaght is an important one for the Hoops, who currently sit sixth in the table. With six league games remaining and a quarter-final in the Sports Direct Women’s FAI Cup against holders Shelbourne to come, there is still plenty to play for.
Rovers beat Waterford 3–1 in the Cup earlier in the season and will be hoping to build momentum under their new coach.
Zambra’s appointment is seen as a statement of intent from Shamrock Rovers, reflecting both a continuity of vision and a progressive approach to developing leaders from within the women’s game.
Her profile, leadership and connection to the club offer strong potential for deeper fan engagement and positive brand alignment as the women’s game continues to grow in visibility and value.
She joins Laura Heffernan of DLR Waves as one of two female head coaches in the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division.
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