Personal information | |||
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Date of birth | 27 February 1981 | ||
Place of birth | Limerick, Ireland | ||
Height | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) | ||
Playing position | Defender | ||
Club information | |||
Current club | Arsenal Ladies | ||
Number | 3 | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
Lifford | |||
St. Patrick's Athletic | |||
2000– | Arsenal Ladies | ||
National team | |||
Republic of Ireland | |||
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). |
Yvonne Tracy (born 27 February 1981) is an Irish female international football defender. She currently plays club football for Arsenal Ladies.
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Tracy began her career with Lifford in County Clare.[1] She joined Arsenal Ladies in August 2000[2] with compatriots Susan Heapes and Caroline Thorpe, and at the same time as Jayne Ludlow.[3] One of seven Irish players then in the Arsenal squad,[4] Tracy was employed in the club's laundry.[5] She won the domestic treble in her first season, and was an unused substitute as Arsenal beat Fulham in the 2001 FA Women's Cup final.[6]
During a league match in 2006 Tracy suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury[7] which kept her out of action for over a year.[8] Republic of Ireland manager Noel King praised Tracy's "incredible spirit" in coming back.[8] However, an injury to the same knee curtailed her appearances in season 2008–09.[9]
Tracy began playing for the national U16 and U18 teams in 1997, alongside Lifford Ladies team-mates Aoife Healy and Áine Greene.[10] While still playing for Lifford, Tracy impressed as captain of the Irish U18 team who topped their qualifying group in 1999.[11] Her performances earned her a starting place in the senior team for a match against Croatia, though she had already featured against the Czech Republic in a 1-1 away draw.[11] After becoming a regular at full international level Tracy was nominated for the International Player of the Year in 2000.[12]
Tracy has since won over 40 senior caps for Ireland[13] and was Irish International Player of the Year in 2002.[14] In October 2009 she came on as a substitute for the injured Stef Curtis and scored the winner in Kazhakstan in a 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification - UEFA Group 6 game.[15][16] Tracy said: "It has been a long, long road to recovery, but it is exciting to return to the pitch and a match-winning goal is a fantastic boost."[17]
Tracy's younger brother Shane also spent time at Arsenal, before returning home to Galway United in January 2007.[18]
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