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The Girls in Green are preparing for their match in Belgium, and it's set to be a particularly historic one for Katie McCabe. When the Tallaght native walks out onto the pitch, she'll be winning her 100th Ireland cap and join an exclusive club that includes Denise O’Sullivan, Louise Quinn, and Aine O’Gorman, among others So, who exactly is this Captain Fantastic who inspires her teammates to greatness? Here are 10 things you might not have known about Katie... 1. Katie is one of 11 children in her family- she has four brothers and six sisters. Her brother Gary McCabe was also a professional footballer, having played in the League of Ireland from 2007 until 2018. 2. She hails from Kilnamanagh just outside Tallaght in Dublin and never forgets her roots often talking about where she grew up in interviews. 3. Katie plays alongside her ex-girlfriend Ruesha Littlejohn. The pair were a couple for a number of years before splitting up just before the World Cup in 2023. During the tournament, Ruesha refused to shake hands with Caitlin Foord, who plays for Australia and alongside Katie at Arsenal, fuelling speculation Katie and Caitlin were an item. They've since confirmed they're dating, often sharing snaps together. 4. Katie started playing football when she was 10 for Templeogue United, lining out for the girls’ and boys’ teams until she was 13. When she was in secondary school, she also played Gaelic football and basketball. 5. She was playing for Raheny United when the Women’s National League was formed in 2011. Over the next three seasons, she won two league titles and three consecutive FAI Women’s Cups. During her time in the WNL, she worked as a grill co-ordinator in Nando’s in The Square in Tallaght. 6. In 2014, Katie battled back from a broken leg to shine for the Ireland U-19 team at the European Championships. 7. Katie was named Ireland Captain in 2019, and her younger sister walked out with her on the pitch at her first game at the helm as team mascot. 8. Katie is a versatile winger and currently plays for Arsenal, having moved to the UK from Shelbourne. In 2023, she signed a contract extension with the Gunners and played her 200th game for the London side. 9. Just before the World Cup started, Katie was awarded the Arsenal Women's Player of the Season after her goal against Man City was named the Goal of the Season. 10. In 2020, Katie was involved in a Covid controversy after posting a picture on a beach in Dubai despite a travel ban for tier four residents of London.
