USA legend Heather O'Reilly is coming out of retirement and returning to club football with Women's National League champions Shelbourne.
The World Cup winner, and three-time Olympic gold medallist, made the surprise announcement on the BBC's World Football podcast. Shelbourne later confirmed the signing on Friday morning. She has signed until the end of the 2022 season.
The midfielder, who won 231 caps for the US, had called time on her career three years ago while playing for North Carolina Courage. She has made the U-turn to fulfil her dream of playing Champions League football. It was a notion sparked by former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.
"You know I've been talking about this for a long time," said the 37-year-old.
"I am somebody that chases their dreams. It helped me in my football career. It helped me in life. It’s a little bit obsessive sometimes when I get an idea because usually I have to see it through.
"I had a long, successful, trophy-ridden career, and I am very proud of that, but there was this one hole on my resume that I never played Champions League football.
"It was a disappointing end to my time over with Arsenal when I wrapped up with them in 2018. It irked me, it bothered me. It was always a thing in the back of my head.
'I felt I could make an immediate impact on Shelbourne'
"I played in Soccer Aid a few months ago. Mr. Arsene Wenger was my manager. We got talking after one of the sessions, and he says, 'Heather, you are very good, you should still play'. I said, 'Oh thanks Arsene, maybe. I never did play Champions League football, and it always bothered me'. He says, 'You should do it. You should play'. I puffed out my chest, put some more thought into it, and said I was going to start having some conversations.
"Arsene Wenger was the catalyst to get me out of retirement, get the boots back on and give it a go with Shelbourne FC."
7 May 2022; Jessie Stapleton of Shelbourne, second from left, celebrates after scoring her side's first goal during the SSE Airtricity Women's National League match between Shelbourne and Peamount United at Tolka Park in Dublin. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
O'Reilly said that she "reached out" to Shelbourne about the possible move.
"I don’t know if it was known that I was interested in coming out of retirement," she said.
"It has been three years nearly since I officially retired from club football. People needed to know that I was interested.
"How I came upon Shelbourne FC is because obviously with the name O’Reilly, there is some Irish ancestry in my family. When I was contemplating what clubs would be interesting to me and what clubs I felt I could make an immediate impact on, I thought about Shelbourne. They’re the champions of Ireland, they had a very successful season last year in order to win the league, but they are still very much a club and a league that needs a lot of growth.
"Some of my former team-mates in Denise O’Sullivan, I played with her at North Carolina Courage, Louise Quinn and Katie McCabe at Arsenal [are Irish]. They are producing some wonderful talent but they need a lot of help with their league in terms of resources and professionalism.
"I think that’s sort of part of why I’m going as well. I do feel that I could bring some eyeballs onto this league, bring some eyeballs onto this team and grow the game a little bit whilst living out this dream of mine to play Champions League football."
Her husband Dave became fully convinced about the move's merits when he realised they would be living near Portmarnock Golf Club.
"I retired the first time before I had my two boys," said O'Reilly.
"Even though they probably won't remember this trip, it was always disappointing that my boys wouldn't be able to see me as a professional player. Now for them to be over there, and see their mom chasing her dreams.
“A lot of people will look at this, raise some eyebrows and think that this is an interesting career move, but I’m chasing my dream. I had this unchecked box and I’m looking to go do it, and for good reasons. I’m thrilled about it, the club is thrilled about it, and I think it’s one of those situations where it’s just a win-win all around.”
Shelbourne face Slovenian side ZNK Pomurje in the first qualifying round of the Champions League on August 18th. That game is a semi-final, part of a four-team mini tournament. Valur of Iceland play FC Hayasa of Armenia in the other semi-final. The winner of each final will progress to round two, where 24 teams will compete for the last 12 slots in the group stages.
"Heather is a proven winner, we’re thrilled to bring one of the greatest players to ever play the game to Tolka Park," said Shelbourne manager Noel King.
"It’s an amazing moment for the club and for the Women’s National League as a whole to have a player of Heather’s stature. I think in particular, our younger players will flourish sharing the stage with a player who has seen, done and won it all."
See Also: 7 Intriguing Irish Storylines To Keep An Eye On In The Championship This Season
