Stephanie Roche's recall into the Republic of Ireland team, almost three years after the last of her 55 caps, is another chapter in a storied career.
When Roche was the runner-up for the 2014 Puskas Award for best goal of the year, she rubbed shoulders with the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, and the Dubliner shined a much-needed light on the women's game in Ireland.
But either side of that magical goal has been a career of high and lows, goals and injuries, of travel and unrelenting determination.
READ MORE: Stephanie Roche reveals how close she came to quitting Ireland before Georgia call-up
Roche played in the inaugural Women's National League in 2011-12, scoring 26 goals for champions Peamount United.
It was in a match for Peamount against Wexford in October 2013 that Roche scored that memorable goal.
Controlling a cross with the inside of her boot before flicking the ball over her shoulder, Roche swivelled around to crack a thunderous volley into the net.
The goal went viral on the internet and saw Roche become the first woman to be nominated for the Puskas award and a leading figure for women's soccer in the country.
Reflecting on the goal and its aftermath in 2021, she said: “It’s something that, obviously, I think it changed my life quite a bit. I think a lot of people started to know who I was after that goal, and it opened up a lot of opportunities for myself.
“It’s something that I’m very grateful for and something that I’m very proud of, as well. My family were very proud, too. It was just a crazy experience.
“But something that I’ve tried to say since then is that it’s not all that I’ve done. Sometimes, some people think that I just went out that day, scored that goal and became famous — and it’s just like, ‘wait, hold on, that’s not actually how it worked’.
“I put a lot of work into becoming a professional footballer. I’m playing for Ireland, I’ve played for the team 54 times — and I’ve done quite well in my career. To have a career as a female footballer is difficult enough. And I’ve done a lot away from the goal, too.
“I’m very, very grateful for what happened with the goal. So many people got behind me and were supportive, Irish people especially, but I think that since the goal some people tend to throw a little abuse at me sometimes and claim that’s the only thing I’ve ever done. But I don’t think they know my career enough to say that."
Shortly after the furore of that goal, Roche signed for French Division 1 side ASPTT Alibi, but her time in France was short-lived and unfulfilling.
As well as finding the salary unreasonable, Roche told that the 'final straw' was a degrading promotional shoot the team were made to do.
Speaking on the WTS Podcast with hosts Graham 'Merro' Merrigan and Danny 'Danjoe' Murray, Roche said: "We did a promotional thing for a game one time. I showed up and there was a make-up artist and hair and I thought this is a great set-up.
"All of a sudden they came out with this bag of gear, it was a jersey and shorts but they were cut up into a belly top and really short shorts. I was like 'I am not wearing this'.
"No one in the room understood what I was saying and we ended up doing a photo shoot in it and they put the posters up in the town. It was the final straw for me.'
'I didn't feel comfortable doing it as a footballer, I felt vulnerable. It was a bad experience and a few other things wrong with the club didn't make me settle in."
Roche secured a move in February 2015 to American side Houston Dash. But it was another frustrating period for the striker.
After only making two substitute appearances, the club let the striker go as they needed to free up an international spot to bring in much-needed defensive cover.
Roche said after her exit: “I got an email the night before last saying I had a meeting with the coach and the General Manager and that set alarm bells off,"
“I was basically told that at the minute we have injuries at the back and the club needs more defenders. They can only sign so many international players and because I am one of the higher earners, they cut me."
She added: “It was a big shock, I was really enjoying it here. The manager liked me and told me I was one of the best finishers at the club. I didn’t see it coming at all. I am shocked and disappointed."
Roche then signed a two-year deal with Sunderland A.F.C Ladies team. Played largely out of position at wing-back, Roche had a mixed spell at the club.
A broken leg suffered on international duty with Ireland in September 2017 saw her on the sidelines, and she was released from her Sunderland contract in Summer 2018, when the club failed to secure a license for the top two tiers of women's football in England.
In November 2018 Roche signed for Serie A club C.F. Florentia, with the hopes of reestablishing herself in the national team.
An ankle injury halted her early progress, and despite enjoying a prolific pre-season run in her second year in Italy, her appearances for the side were limited.
Citing a desire to spend more time with family and friends, Roche resigned for Peamount United in February 2020.
It is a move that has seen a sharp upturn in form for the six foot striker. Still, she has admitted frustration that even scoring twice in Peamount's 2020 FAI Cup final victory was not enough to earn an Ireland recall.
“There was a point where I thought it wasn’t coming because I was playing well for Peamount and scoring goals,” Roche admitted.
“You’re nearly fed up as a player. I wanted to know if I wasn’t being used; otherwise, I would have walked away."
But in June 2022, on the back of scoring another hat-trick for Peamount, Roche, 33, was called up to the Ireland squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifier against Georgia.
Ireland manager Vera Pauw said: "Stephanie is a fantastic person and a fantastic athlete.
"We've always kept very good contact, I've always explained to her where she stands. I was always honest and she was always honest to me.
"It's a reward for her hard work because she kept working and working that there would be a moment that we needed her again.
"She wanted to keep going and this is a reward for all of her hard work. [She was] always there at the home-based sessions, always there to have extra training, always there at any moment."
Roche said herself: "“I had been part of this squad for 10 years and being out of the loop was disappointing. I always felt I had a chance and the chats with Vera were encouraging. It was just about trying to take the chance when it happened.
"I asked her 'Am I wasting my time here?' But she told me she really appreciated me as a player so that gave me a push to keep going. I have to thank her for that.”
In September 2021 Roche revealed her engagement to long-time boyfriend Dean Zambra, although she admitted that his proposal was still a shock to her.
“Myself and Dean are together a long time. I think it was something that everybody else expected but, as anybody that’s been in a long-term relationship will be able to relate to, it didn’t happen for so long that when it did happen, I wasn’t expecting it.
“When he asked me, it was a big shock. But I was delighted, he’s my best friend.
“I think we always knew it was going to happen, it was just about getting around to it. And I think with me coming home last year that was, for him, the right time to do it.”
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