Isibeal Atkinson

Isibeal Carolan "Izzy" Atkinson (born 17 July 2001) is an Irish professional footballer who plays for English Women's Super League club West Ham United and the Republic of Ireland national team. She previously played for Shelbourne in Ireland before joining Celtic in 2021.

Izzy Atkinson
Atkinson with West Ham United in 2022.
Personal information
Full name Isibeal Carolan Atkinson
Date of birth (2001-07-17) 17 July 2001
Place of birth Rush, Dublin, Ireland
Height 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in)
Position(s) Full-back / Winger
Team information
Current team
 West Ham United
Number 11
Youth career
2014–2017 Enniskerry
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2021 Shelbourne
2021–2022 Celtic
2022– West Ham United 15 (1)
International career‡
2018– Republic of Ireland 9 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:57, 5 October 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 16:57, 5 October 2023 (UTC)

Club career

Atkinson played youth football for Rush Athletic and the Metropolitan Girls' League Academy, before spending three years with Enniskerry FC. She signed for Women's National League (WNL) club Shelbourne in July 2017.[1]

The 2020 WNL season, delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, began with Atkinson in excellent form for Shelbourne. Instead of occupying her usual position on the wing, she had been repurposed as an attacking left-back.[2] Her goal against Bohemians was named Goal of the Month for August 2020.[3]

In February 2021, Atkinson signed for Scottish Women's Premier League club Celtic.[4] She featured in Celtic's 2021–22 UEFA Women's Champions League matches, creating an equaliser against FC Minsk following a solo dribble down the pitch.[5] In May 2022 she scored an extra time winning goal in the Scottish Women's Cup final, as Celtic beat rivals Glasgow City 3–2.[6]

In July 2022, Atkinson and another young Irish player Tyler Toland both left Celtic.[7] Atkinson then joined English Women's Super League club West Ham United later that month.[8]

International career

In October 2017, Republic of Ireland national team coach Colin Bell named 16-year-old Atkinson in his squad for a FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying fixture in Slovakia. She won her first senior cap as a 90th-minute substitute for Leanne Kiernan in a 3–1 friendly win over Portugal at the Estádio de São Miguel, Ponta Delgada, on 22 January 2018.[9]

Atkinson's first competitive appearance for Ireland was in a 1–0 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying defeat in Norway in June 2018. She was an 89th-minute substitute for Áine O'Gorman and was shown the yellow card.[10] She started her first match in a 1–0 friendly defeat by Belgium, staged in Murcia, Spain, on 20 January 2019.[9]

Atkinson was named in Vera Pauw's squad for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 1 October 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
West Ham United 2022–23 Women's Super League 1512030—201
2023–24 Women's Super League 000000—00
Total 1512030—201
Career total 1512030—201

    International
    As of match played 27 September 2023
    Appearances and goals by national team and year
    National teamYearAppsGoals
    Republic of Ireland 201820
    201910
    202210
    2023 5 0
    Total90

    References
    1. Kearney, Diarmuid (30 July 2017). "Shelbourne Ladies announce signing of Isibeal Atkinson". Extratime.com. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
    2. @thewnlshow (20 August 2020). "We spoke to Shels Izzy Atkinson after her first goal of the season for Shels last night a lovely strike from the full back who's had superb start to the season" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
    3. @FAI_WNL (1 September 2020). "And the winner of the #WNL August Goal of the Month is... @shelsfc ace Isibeal Atkinson for this thunderbolt High voltage sign" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
    4. Pyne, Anthony (2 February 2021). "Izzy Atkinson walking on air after dream Celtic move". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
    5. Rodden, Mark (4 September 2021). "Pauw's foreign legion return to clubs before qualifiers". RTÉ Sport. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
    6. Ryan, Larry (29 May 2022). "Ireland international Izzy Atkinson wins Scottish Cup for Celtic". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
    7. Duffy, Emma (5 July 2022). "Irish international duo depart Celtic, Littlejohn stays on at Villa". The42.ie. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
    8. Duffy, Emma (15 July 2022). "'Dream come true' - Promising Ireland international signs for West Ham". The42.ie. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
    9. Duffy, Emma (28 March 2019). "'I couldn't ask for any more to be honest... I'm living my dream, as cringe as that sounds'". The42.ie. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
    10. "Women World Cup Qualifiers Europe 2017/2018 » Teams (Republic of Ireland)". WorldFootball.net. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
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