Claire Scanlan
Encyclopedia
Claire Josephine Scanlan (born 21 February 1972) is an Irish soccer coach and former midfielder for the Republic of Ireland women's national football team
. She played for clubs in the American W-League
, the Japanese L. League
and the English FA Women's Premier League
.
and cricket
. She became the first female to play hurling
at Croke Park
with the school team, and marked the occasion with a goal.
After six seasons with Rush Athletic, Scanlan moved to Dublin rivals Swords Celtic. She returned to Rush Athletic and won Leinster Senior League Division Two honours with the club in 1990–91. In 1992 Scanlan took up a soccer scholarship to Mercyhurst College
in Pennsylvania
. She was selected to the All-American team in 1994 and 1995 and was named both Division II Player of the Year and Conference Player of the Year.
After graduating Scanlan signed a full–time professional contract to play for OKI F.C. Winds, a club in Japan
's L. League
. She returned to Ireland for a brief spell with Shelbourne Ladies, before heading back to America in August 1999. She won a W-League
title with Springfield Sirens in 2000, before turning out for Memphis Mercury
(2001 and 2002) and Boston Renegades
(2003). Meanwhile, Scanlan had joined Leeds United
and was playing for the Yorkshire
club in the FA Women's Premier League National Division
during the winter season.
After three seasons at Leeds, Scanlan joined Bristol Rovers
as player–assistant manager to Gary Green.
in an Under–18 fixture against Northern Ireland
in 1989. She scored both goals in the Republic's 2–0 win at Tolka Park
.
In February 2000 Scanlan was named the 1999 FAI Women's Senior International Player of the Year.
She won a total of 57 senior caps and scored seven goals before retiring in 2009. In February of that year a half–time presentation during the Irish men's national team World Cup qualifier
against Georgia
at Croke Park recognised Scanlan's contribution to Irish football.
. She left to take up a post as assistant coach at Troy University
, where she had previously worked as a graduate coach between 1999 and 2001 while completing a Master's degree
in Education.
Scanlan is also on the coaching staff of the FAI
and was an assistant coach of the Irish team who reached the quarter–finals of the 2010 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup
.
Republic of Ireland women's national football team
The Republic of Ireland women's national football team, selects players from both the 350 Women's Football Association of Ireland teams, in 21 affiliate leagues throughout the nation, and the international women's football community. The WFAI was founded in 1973...
. She played for clubs in the American W-League
W-League
The USL W-League is a national women's soccer league in the United States on the 2nd level of women's soccer in the United States soccer pyramid, alongside the Women's Premier Soccer League and below Women's Professional Soccer....
, the Japanese L. League
L. League
The L. League is the top flight of women's association football in Japan. It is the women's equivalent of the J. League, but not professional. However, some individual players are professional.The league conssists of two divisions: division 1 has the nickname and division 2...
and the English FA Women's Premier League
FA Women's Premier League
The FA Women's Premier League is the second tier of women's football in England. It previously formed the top tier prior to the creation of the FA Women's Super League in 2011. The Women's Premier League has been run by The Football Association since the 1992–93 season...
.
Club career
Scanlan began playing in the Dublin women's league as an 11–year–old, with Rush Athletic. While attending St. Joseph's Secondary School Scanlon also played camogieCamogie
Camogie is an Irish stick-and-ball team sport played by women; it is almost identical to the game of hurling played by men. Camogie is played by 100,000 women in Ireland and world wide, largely among Irish communities....
and cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
. She became the first female to play hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
at Croke Park
Croke Park
Croke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...
with the school team, and marked the occasion with a goal.
After six seasons with Rush Athletic, Scanlan moved to Dublin rivals Swords Celtic. She returned to Rush Athletic and won Leinster Senior League Division Two honours with the club in 1990–91. In 1992 Scanlan took up a soccer scholarship to Mercyhurst College
Mercyhurst College
Mercyhurst College is a Catholic liberal arts college in Erie, Pennsylvania, USA.-History:On September 20, 1926, Mercyhurst College opened its doors just a few blocks away from the city's southern boundary. It was founded by the Sisters of Mercy of the Erie Diocese, who were led by Mother M. Borgia...
in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. She was selected to the All-American team in 1994 and 1995 and was named both Division II Player of the Year and Conference Player of the Year.
After graduating Scanlan signed a full–time professional contract to play for OKI F.C. Winds, a club in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
's L. League
L. League
The L. League is the top flight of women's association football in Japan. It is the women's equivalent of the J. League, but not professional. However, some individual players are professional.The league conssists of two divisions: division 1 has the nickname and division 2...
. She returned to Ireland for a brief spell with Shelbourne Ladies, before heading back to America in August 1999. She won a W-League
W-League
The USL W-League is a national women's soccer league in the United States on the 2nd level of women's soccer in the United States soccer pyramid, alongside the Women's Premier Soccer League and below Women's Professional Soccer....
title with Springfield Sirens in 2000, before turning out for Memphis Mercury
Memphis Mercury
Memphis Mercury was an American women's soccer team, founded in 2005. The team was a member of the Women's Premier Soccer League, the third tier of women’s soccer in the United States and Canada, until 2006, when the team left the league and the franchise was terminated.The team played its home...
(2001 and 2002) and Boston Renegades
Boston Renegades
Boston Renegades was an American women’s soccer team, founded in 2003. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues W-League, the second tier of women’s soccer in the United States and Canada. The team plays in the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference...
(2003). Meanwhile, Scanlan had joined Leeds United
Leeds United L.F.C.
Leeds United Ladies Football Club are an English women's football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. They compete in the FA Women's Premier League National Division for the 2009–10 season and are one of two Yorkshire teams in the FA Women's Premier League National Division, along with...
and was playing for the Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
club in the FA Women's Premier League National Division
FA Women's Premier League National Division
The FA Women's Premier League National Division is the second level of the English women's football league pyramid. From 1991 until the introduction of the summer competition FA Women's Super League the National Division functioned as the top league in England. Below it are simultaneously the...
during the winter season.
After three seasons at Leeds, Scanlan joined Bristol Rovers
Bristol Academy W.F.C.
Bristol Academy Women's Football Club are a semi-professional English women's football club affiliated with the Bristol Academy of Sport, based at Filton College. They were admitted to the FA WSL in 2010.-History:...
as player–assistant manager to Gary Green.
International career
Scanlan made her debut for the Republic of IrelandRepublic of Ireland women's national football team
The Republic of Ireland women's national football team, selects players from both the 350 Women's Football Association of Ireland teams, in 21 affiliate leagues throughout the nation, and the international women's football community. The WFAI was founded in 1973...
in an Under–18 fixture against Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland women's national football team
The Northern Ireland women's national football team represents Northern Ireland in international women's football.-World Cup record:-Current squad:Northern Ireland squad for 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifiers versus France on 27 and 31 March 2010...
in 1989. She scored both goals in the Republic's 2–0 win at Tolka Park
Tolka Park
Tolka Park is an Irish football ground located in the north Dublin suburb of Drumcondra, on the northern banks of the River Tolka. It is currently the home ground of League of Ireland club Shelbourne...
.
In February 2000 Scanlan was named the 1999 FAI Women's Senior International Player of the Year.
She won a total of 57 senior caps and scored seven goals before retiring in 2009. In February of that year a half–time presentation during the Irish men's national team World Cup qualifier
2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)
The European zone of qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup saw 53 teams competing for 13 places at the finals. The qualification process started on 20 August 2008, after UEFA Euro 2008, and ended on 18 November 2009. The qualification process saw the first competitive matches of...
against Georgia
Georgia national football team
The Georgia national football team is the national association football team of Georgia and is controlled by the Georgian Football Federation. The Georgian team's first match took place in 1990, while Georgia was still part of the Soviet Union. The team have attempted to qualify for each major...
at Croke Park recognised Scanlan's contribution to Irish football.
Coaching career
While playing for Bristol Academy, Scanlan was employed as the head coach of the Female Football Development Centre at Filton CollegeFilton College
Filton College is a further education college in Filton, Bristol, England.The main site lies on the A38 just south of Filton Aerodrome. A second major campus, dedicated to performing arts, fine art and sport, and known as WISE , opened in 2005 adjacent to Filton High School, near Bristol Parkway...
. She left to take up a post as assistant coach at Troy University
Troy University
Troy University is a public university that is located in Troy, Alabama, United States. It was originally founded in 1887 as Troy Normal School. Its main campus enrollment is 7,194 students. The total enrollment of all Troy University campuses is 29,689...
, where she had previously worked as a graduate coach between 1999 and 2001 while completing a Master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in Education.
Scanlan is also on the coaching staff of the FAI
Football Association of Ireland
The Football Association of Ireland is the governing body for the sport of association football in the Republic of Ireland. It should not to be confused with the Irish Football Association , which is the organising body for the sport in Northern Ireland.For the full history, statistics and records...
and was an assistant coach of the Irish team who reached the quarter–finals of the 2010 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup
2010 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup
The 2010 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup women's football tournament is the second such tournament, and was held in Trinidad and Tobago from September 5–25, 2010...
.