Louise Quinn earned her senior international debut for the Republic of Ireland in a 2008 match against Poland.
Republic of Ireland defender Louise Quinn has officially announced her retirement from football.
The 34-year-old amassed 121 caps for her country, first appearing in an international friendly versus Poland in February 2008.
Quinn found the net 16 times for Ireland at senior level, with 15 of those goals coming from headers, and was ever-present during Ireland’s historic debut at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Her club career featured stints with Notts County, Arsenal, and Birmingham City in England, as well as a season with Fiorentina in Italy.
While at Arsenal, the County Wicklow native secured both the Women’s Super League title and the FA Women’s League Cup.
Quinn remains contracted to Birmingham City, although she has been sidelined since suffering a hip injury last October.
Her decision follows the recent retirements of international teammates Diane Caldwell, Niamh Fahey and Julie-Ann Russell.
“When the time comes to write your retirement statement, the words are never easy to find,” Quinn reflected on Tuesday.
“But now is the moment for me to bring my playing career to a close. There are countless reasons for and against, but ultimately, it’s something you simply know in your heart.”
She acknowledged that international duty for Ireland had always inspired her career.
“Representing Ireland… that’s always been the driving force behind my passion for football. Wearing the green jersey has given me some of the most memorable moments of my life.”
“I have had the privilege of being part of something unique. The foundations were laid by the greats who came before me, and I was fortunate enough to share the pitch with a few of them.”
“From there, it was our turn to carry forward the fight, working to elevate Ireland’s standing on the world stage. We built, we persevered, and we always played as a united team. Competing in the World Cup proved that dreams can indeed be realised.”