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<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n At this week’s squad announcement, Ireland head coach Carla Ward all but confirmed that the reports are true<\/a>, and that McCabe will be plying her trade elsewhere next season.<\/p>\n However, it’s safe to say the 30-year-old will be remembered as one of Arsenal’s greatest-ever players. McCabe has twice been named the club’s Player of the Year, in 2021 and 2023.<\/p>\n That is not all in the Dubliner’s stacked trophy cabinet. Domestically, McCabe has won a WSL title, an FA Cup, and three League Cups during her time at Arsenal, as well as being named in the 2020-21 PFA Team of the Year.<\/p>\n After being named in the 2023 Champions League Team of the Season, the crowning moment of McCabe’s club career came in last year’s final.<\/p>\n McCabe became just the fourth Irish woman – and 16th Irish player overall – to win the European Cup, playing in every single game en route to the final and breaking the record for most minutes played by a single player in a Women’s Champions League campaign.<\/p>\n That 1-0 win over Barcelona in the final may come to be remembered as much of a defining moment in McCabe’s career as anything she has done in an Ireland jersey.<\/p>\n She is beloved by the club’s fans, and a fellow Arsenal legend, Ian Wright, summed up why in a perfectly succinct manner this week.<\/p>\n READ HERE: 5 Ireland Headaches Heimir Hallgrimsson Must Address Before Czechia Play-Off<\/a><\/p>\n READ HERE: Ireland Boss Carla Ward Reveals Unique Tallaght Plan To Tackle France<\/a><\/p>\n Ian Wright had highest praise for Ireland captain Katie McCabe It’s no secret that Katie McCabe loves to get under the skin of her opponents, and she has had more than a few run-ins with opposition players and referees throughout her career.<\/p>\n However, it is that which makes her such a special player, according to Ian Wright.<\/p>\n Wright and co-host, Steph Houghton, welcomed another Arsenal icon and current coach, Kelly Smith, onto their podcast Crossways<\/a> this week, and discussed last May’s historic Champions League win.<\/p>\n “Katie McCabe, for me, had a perfect game,” Wright said of the final win over Barcelona.<\/p>\n In that game, in everything she does, it represented everything about the players.<\/p>\n You know, the work she put in, the shithousery stuff, everything, What she done, everything, what she was doing was perfect for the game.<\/p>\n It drew laughs from Houghton and Kelly, but Wright’s remark was bang on the money.<\/p>\n The Englishman has shown his affection for Katie McCabe on many previous occasions<\/a>, even when she has been producing the goods for Ireland rather than for Arsenal.<\/p>\n Katie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<\/p>\n \u2014 Ian Wright (@IanWright0) April 2, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83e\udd0c\ud83c\udffe\ud83e\udd0c\ud83c\udffe\ud83e\udd0c\ud83c\udffe @Katie_McCabe11<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/9GYCG1qnsq<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Ian Wright (@IanWright0) July 26, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n Yesssssssssss @Katie_McCabe11<\/a> \u2764\ufe0f\u2764\ufe0f\u2764\ufe0f\u2764\ufe0f https:\/\/t.co\/Y9O16or2Qr<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Ian Wright (@IanWright0) October 11, 2022<\/a><\/p>\n See Katie McCabe. You want her on your team. Doesn’t matter if it’s going badly or you winning comfortably. You want her alongside you. Another brilliant strike \ud83d\ude80\ud83d\udcaa\ud83c\udffe<\/p>\n \u2014 Ian Wright (@IanWright0) October 15, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n \u2665\ufe0f<\/p>\n \u2014 Ian Wright (@IanWright0) July 26, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Wherever she goes next, there is no doubt that Katie McCabe will long be remembered as a true Arsenal great.<\/p>\n SEE ALSO: The Balls.ie Thursday Afternoon Office Quiz: Week 2<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\n![\"Katie](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ian-wright-039-s-quot-shithousery-quot-remark-was-perfect-compliment-to-katie-mccabe.jpg\")
24 May 2025; Katie McCabe of Arsenal, centre top, celebrates with team-mate Chloe Kelly after the UEFA Women’s Champions League final match between Arsenal and Barcelona at Est\u00e1dio Jos\u00e9 Alvalade in Lisbon, Portugal. Photo by Pedro Loureiro\/Sportsfile<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/ian-wright-039-s-quot-shithousery-quot-remark-was-perfect-compliment-to-katie-mccabe.png\")
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