Q&ANiamh Fahey interview: 'I'm so proud to have achieved a dream and captained Liverpool'
Captaining Liverpool FC Women is one of the proudest moments of Niamh Fahey’s career as she explains why she has no regrets about her decision to retire at the end of the season.
The lifelong Red from Galway grew up to achieve her dream of playing for her childhood club and was later entrusted with the skipper’s armband.
Her journey with Liverpool as a player began in 2018 and the model professional captained the team to the FA Women’s Championship title in 2021-22.
That trophy secured promotion back to the Barclays Women’s Super League, where the Reds have since cemented themselves thanks to the standards upheld by Fahey.
With just two games of 2024-25 remaining, the 37-year-old will be hoping to get minutes in Liverpool’s final home outing of the season when they host Everton at Anfield on Sunday.
After announcing her news on Friday, Fahey spoke to Liverpoolfc.com about why now is the right time to call it a day…
On announcing her retirement from football after seven years at Liverpool…
It is an emotional decision. One, because you are retiring as a professional footballer. But two, you are leaving a club that you absolutely love and adore. As sad as I am to say goodbye, I’m really proud of the journey that I’ve been on, the team have been on and [I am] leaving Liverpool in a better place than when I first joined. I’m feeling proud overall and proud of what we’ve achieved up to now.
On why now is the right time to announce her retirement…
I suppose maybe getting out of bed every morning you feel your Achilles absolutely raging with pain or something! Look, I’ve been fortunate to have had such a long career and I feel like I’ve given my absolute everything. I don’t have any more to give. I’ve enjoyed my journey but now it is the right time and I’m happy with how my journey has been.
On how much the club means to her…
To be honest, it’s very difficult to summarise it now and I think it will only be later on when I’ve had time to process it. But in general, growing up as a lifelong fan, maybe it was beyond my dreams to say that one day I would play for Liverpool. I always dreamt it but then to go on and captain the club, it’s something so special for me and one of the proudest moments of my career that I can say I played for Liverpool and captained this club.
On whether she has a favourite moment in a Liverpool shirt…
I think the biggest one obviously is getting promoted back to the WSL. We had a tricky couple of years in the Championship and a bit of a slide. I think being able to lead the club back to the WSL was a really proud moment for me and trying to return us back to some of the heights we achieved in the past. I’m really proud and that’s probably the standout moment for me.
On lifting the trophy as captain when the Reds won the Championship…
It was special. I was looking back at a few of the videos and stuff. It was a really tight-knit group as well, so I’ve got a lot of fond memories, seeing their faces and doing a bit of the Hendo shuffle as well or trying to do it! To be able to lead the team back to the WSL was a very proud moment for me.
On her family coming to see her at Anfield on Sunday…
I’ve got a big family so a few of them but not all of them are coming over. I’ll have a good crew from Galway coming and they’ve been great supporting me. We’ve now got the derby, an important game, especially considering how the last few derbies have gone. This is such an important game for us, especially with it being at Anfield as well. We have to make sure we are getting a win on derby day. We will be ready for this one on Sunday.
On how proud she is of the position the club is in now…
I mean it’s night and day in the women’s side from when I joined in 2018 to where we are now. We have the AXA Melwood Training Centre, a top-class training facility. I’m proud of my time here and to see the progress that has happened. It’s not always been easy but more progress to go and more ambitions to achieve. But I’m proud of my journey to get us back up to a decent level.
On the team spirit and togetherness she will miss at Liverpool…
I’ve been very fortunate here to have a tight-knit group despite the different changes over the years. The group dynamic is something special itself and it has helped us during a lot of tough times here when things weren’t going well. It’s easy to fall apart but the girls always stuck together and that has been our core. I’m going to miss the dressing room and the girls themselves. It’s just great craic on a daily basis and that’s probably one of the biggest things I’m going to miss.
On cheering the team on as a fan in the future…
I’m a lifelong Liverpool supporter and I don’t intend to stop now. I’ll be their biggest supporter next season watching on from afar.
On what the future might hold for her going forward…
A good question – I’m trying to figure that one out myself! It’s one of those transitional moments when you are trying to figure out the next steps. First of all, it’s the beach, just take some actual time to rest the body and relax. And long term, maybe something in sports and business where my strengths and passion lie. I could probably see myself doing something like that in the future.
On looking back at her whole career having achieved a dream when she was a young girl…
I would have snapped your hand off! It’s kind of surreal looking back now. Thinking of myself as a young girl in the back garden thinking about so many moments and to see it actually happened, it’s nice to look back. It has been exceptional.
On a special message for the fans…
I want to say a massive thank you to all the Reds home and away. You literally had our backs every step of the way, especially in those tougher moments. You never stopped singing, always had our backs and I can’t thank you enough for the way you have taken me into this city, into your hearts, and I’ll never forget that. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart.