Julie-Ann Russell Achieves “Total Dream” International Comeback

Julie-Ann Russell made her international comeback this year, having given birth in 2023. After watching the Republic of Ireland at the World Cup in the summer of 2023, Russell had believed her career as an international footballer was over. Her emigration to Australia meant her last of 60 caps had been against Kazakhstan in 2020, and upon her return home to Galway, she and her husband Kieran welcomed their first child, Rosie. At that time, she never imagined she would once again represent her country and score goals as Eileen Gleeson’s team advanced to within one step of the European Championships. “Watching the girls at the World Cup, Rosie was about two weeks old,” Russell recalled, reflecting on her role in helping her team defeat Georgia and secure a final play-off against Wales for a place in Switzerland next summer. “I was so proud of them. Watching them, I thought I’d never be back in there and then a year later, there I was playing against England and France.” Despite completing the New York marathon in a sub-four hour time just five months after childbirth, the forward was uncertain about returning to football at any level, let alone internationally. However, after deciding to make a comeback with Galway United, she stated that “the rest is history.” Russell explained, “I wasn’t sure if I was going to come back to football after Rosie. I felt good, my body felt strong, so I said I would give it another whack with Galway United. The rest is history.” She added, “It’s so special to be back playing for my country and to have Rosie part of it, as well as my husband Kieran. It’s a total dream.” Manager Eileen Gleeson revealed that baby Rosie now has “26 aunties” among Russell’s teammates. Russell’s return was initiated by a phone call from manager Gleeson, whose professional relationship with Russell dates back to their time at Peamount United. Gleeson commented on Russell’s performance and character: “Julie-Ann is brilliant. You see that energy on the pitch but she’s the same in everything she does. She’s committed, she’s diligent, she’s great round the camp, she’s great on the team. We’re very lucky to have her.” She also included, “And, of course, baby Rosie too.” With a laugh, Gleeson declared, “Rosie is the most important member of the squad. They come as a package. She’s got 26 aunties now, so she’s one lucky baby.” While the presence of Russell and her daughter as a “package” in team camps marks a first for the Republic of Ireland, Gleeson emphasized its broader importance for the sport, advocating for such accommodations to become standard practice. “It’s the women’s game and motherhood is part of being a woman,” Gleeson stated. “We want players to stay in the game and you have to create environments to facilitate that. Julie-Ann is back playing, she’s super fit, so it’s for us to integrate Rosie in and make sure that Julie-Ann can keep playing and, across the broader women’s game, that women can keep playing and that motherhood isn’t a barrier.”