Loading AI tools
Gráinne Kierans (born 20 September 1978) is an Irish football coach and former player who was the head coach of Shamrock Rovers team who play in the Women's National League (Ireland). Kierans, the holder of a UEFA A licence, played as a midfielder or striker for several English clubs and represented the Republic of Ireland national team.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Grainne Kierans | ||
| Date of birth | 20 September 1978 | ||
| Place of birth | Drogheda, Ireland | ||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| –1999 | St Patrick's Athletic Ladies | ||
| 1999–2001 | Arsenal Ladies | ||
| 2001–2003 | Charlton Athletic Ladies | ||
| 2003–2004 | Leeds United Ladies | ||
| 2004–2005 | Doncaster Rovers Belles | ||
| 2005–2006 | Bristol Academy | ||
| 2007 | Drogheda United Ladies | ||
| 2008–2009 | St. Francis | ||
| International career | |||
| Republic of Ireland | |||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
As a 20-year-old, Kierans spent a summer playing semi-professionally in Denmark.[1] From here she was signed by Arsenal, before moving on to Charlton Athletic two years later. At Arsenal she had been one of seven Irish players then at the club,[2] including her former St Patrick's Athletic L.F.C. teammates Emma Byrne and Ciara Grant. Kierans quit Charlton in 2003[3] then had single season spells with Leeds United, Doncaster Rovers Belles and Bristol Academy.[1]
Kierans returned to Ireland in 2006 through work,[4] then played for Drogheda United[5] and St. Francis. She won the FAI Women's Cup with St. Francis in 2008[6] then retired in 2009[1] after playing in the 2009–10 UEFA Women's Champions League qualifying round.[7]
Kierans represented the Republic of Ireland in the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification (UEFA) tournament while attached to St. Patrick's Athletic.[8] She went on to captain the side[1] and was still a member of the squad after returning from her club career in England.[5]
After returning to Ireland Kierans ran a gym in Ballyjamesduff.[1]
Wikiwand in your browser!
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Every time you click a link to Wikipedia, Wiktionary or Wikiquote in your browser's search results, it will show the modern Wikiwand interface.
Wikiwand extension is a five stars, simple, with minimum permission required to keep your browsing private, safe and transparent.
