Emma Anne Byrne is an Irish

Irish people

The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...

 association footballer

Football (soccer)

Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...

 from Leixlip

Leixlip

-Politics:Since 1988 Leixlip has had a nine member Town Council , headed by a Cathaoirleach , which has control over many local matters, although it is limited in that it is not also a planning authority...

 in County Kildare

County Kildare

County Kildare is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county...

. She currently plays as a goalkeeper

Goalkeeper (football)

In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...

 for the English team Arsenal

Arsenal L.F.C.

Arsenal Ladies Football Club are an English women's association football club affiliated with Arsenal F.C.. Founded in 1987, they are the most successful club in English women's football having won 34 major trophies to date; which are 12 FA Women's Premier League titles, 11 FA Women's Cups, ten...

, and also for the Republic of Ireland women's team

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...

.

Club career

Byrne joined Arsenal in August 2000 from St Patrick's Athletic, and has been their first choice goalkeeper ever since. She is in her eleventh season with Arsenal and was voted club Players' Player of the Year in 2003 and 2005.

In April 2007 Byrne became a European champion with Arsenal, when they beat Umeå IK

Umeå IK

Umeå IK is a prominent women's association football club based in the city of Umeå, Sweden. The club was established in 1917 as a general sports club, and started competing in women's in 1985. In 1996 the team reached the premier division, the Damallsvenskan but was relegated the following year. In...

 of Sweden in the final of the UEFA Women's Cup

UEFA Women's Cup

The UEFA Women's Champions League is the first international women's association football club competition for teams that play in UEFA nations. Initially known as the UEFA Women's Cup, the competition has been re-branded since the 2009-2010 edition as the UEFA Women's Champions League...

 by 1–0 on aggregate, a tie in which she made numerous vital saves in the home and away games.

International career

Byrne has represented her country at every age group and is currently Ireland’s No 1 stopper with over 70 senior caps to her name. In 2007 she estimated her total caps at just under 70, though 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...

 were unable to confirm the actual figure.

Personal life

Byrne previously worked in 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...

 ticket office and is now employed as a coach in Arsenal's Academy. Her boyfriend is Marcus Bignot

Marcus Bignot

Marcus Bignot is an ex-English professional footballer, currently manager of Solihull Moors.-Playing career:...

.

Honours

• 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...
  
  : 9

2000–01, 2001–02, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009-10.

• FA Women's Cup
  FA Women's Cup
  The Football Association Women’s Challenge Cup Competition, commonly referred to as the FA Women's Cup, is the top cup competition for women's football clubs in England – designed as an exact equivalent to the FA Cup created 99 years earlier...
  
  : 7

2000–01, 2003–04, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11.

• Women's League Cup: 4

2000–01, 2004–05, 2006–07, 2007–08.

• UEFA Women's Cup
  UEFA Women's Cup
  The UEFA Women's Champions League is the first international women's association football club competition for teams that play in UEFA nations. Initially known as the UEFA Women's Cup, the competition has been re-branded since the 2009-2010 edition as the UEFA Women's Champions League...
  
  : 1

2007

External links

• The Arsenal profile of Emma Byrne
• The UEFA profile of Emma Byrne
• The FIFA profile of Emma Byrne