Aoife Mannion

Aoife Mannion (born 24 September 1995) is a professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Manchester United in the Women's Super League and the Republic of Ireland women's national team.[4] She was previously capped for England, the country of her birth, at youth level and received her first senior call-up in August 2019 but never appeared before debuting for Ireland in February 2023.[5] Mannion began her senior club career at Aston Villa before appearing for Birmingham City and Manchester City. She has been named to the PFA WSL Team of the Year twice.

Aoife Mannion
Mannion in 2015
Personal information
Date of birth (1995-09-24) 24 September 1995
Place of birth Solihull, England[1]
Height 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)[2]
Position(s) Centre back[3]
Team information
Current team
 Manchester United
Number 5
Youth career
Birmingham City
Aston Villa
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2013 Aston Villa 13 (0)
2013–2019 Birmingham City 93 (8)
2019–2021 Manchester City 7 (0)
2021– Manchester United 17 (0)
International career‡
2010 England U15 2 (0)
2010–2012 England U17 15 (0)
2012–2014 England U19 21 (0)
2014 England U20 3 (0)
2015–2016 England U23 10 (0)
2023– Republic of Ireland 2 (0)
Medal record
Representing  England
UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship
Runner-up2013 Wales
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14 May 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 8 April 2023

Early years

Mannion was born in Solihull and attended St Peter's Catholic School, where she was a classmate of fellow footballer Jack Grealish.[6] Mannion attended Solihull School sixth form college from 2012 to 2014.[7] Mannion began playing football at the age of six for Celtic Reds under the management of Mark Fogarty, captaining the side to a Warwickshire County League title. In 2006, she left Celtic Reds under-10s to join the Birmingham City Centre of Excellence.[8] Her father would also take her to St Andrew's to watch the Birmingham City men's team play, citing Robbie Savage and Roy Keane as childhood inspirations.[9] Mannion also played Gaelic football growing up.[6]

Club career

Aston Villa

Having joined the Aston Villa Centre of Excellence, Mannion was promoted to the first team in July 2012 by Joe Hunt, who had managed her in the academy.[6] The team played in the second-tier FA Women's Premier League National Division. Mannion made 21 appearances in all competitions as Aston Villa won the 2012–13 FA Women's Premier League Cup, beating Leeds United on penalties in the final.[10][11]

Birmingham City

Mannion was signed for Birmingham City in August 2013 by David Parker.[12] She made her Birmingham debut on 16 October 2013 against Finnish side PK-35 Vantaa in the first leg of the 2013–14 UEFA Women's Champions League round of 32.[12] Birmingham defeated PK-35 Vantaa 1–0 and advanced to the round of 16.[13] Forging a partnership with Kerys Harrop, Mannion played every minute of the 2014 and 2015 FA WSL seasons, with her performances leading her to be named to the 2015 PFA Women's Young Player of the Year shortlist, but lost out to Leah Williamson.[14] She signed a new contract ahead of the 2016 season.[15][16] In 2016, Mannion continued her ever-present run, starting all but the final game of the season, ending a run of 44 successive WSL starts. In 2017, Birmingham reached the FA Cup final for the second time in their history. Held at Wembley Stadium, Mannion started the 2017 FA Women's Cup Final as Birmingham lost 4–1 to Manchester City.[17] Under Marc Skinner, Mannion was selected in back to back PFA Team of the Years for 2017–18 and 2018–19,[18][19] before departing the club when her contract expired on 30 June 2019, declining a new deal to stay at Birmingham.[20]

Manchester City

On 9 July 2019, Manchester City announced the signing of Mannion on a two-year deal ahead of the 2019–20 season.[21] She made her competitive debut for City on 7 September 2019, starting in the season opener as City beat Manchester United 1–0 in the first professional women's Manchester derby in front of a then-record 31,213 crowd.[22] She scored her first goal for the club on 12 September 2019, a penalty in a 7–1 Champions League round of 32 first leg victory against Swiss side Lugano.[23] Mannion injured her anterior cruciate ligament in a Champions League game against Atlético Madrid on 19 October 2019.[24] The injury kept her out for 16 months, finally making a return to play as a 72nd-minute substitute in a 4–0 win over her former side Birmingham City on 28 February 2021, 498 days since her last appearance.[25] She made her first start since the injury against Tottenham Hotspur on 4 April 2021, stepping in for the withdrawing Alex Greenwood having originally been named as a substitute. She played the full 90 minutes as City won 3–0.[26][27] Mannion left Manchester City at the end of the 2020–21 season upon the expiration of her contract having made 11 appearances in all competitions.[28]

Manchester United

On 26 July 2021, Mannion signed a two-year contract with Manchester United.[29] On 2 February 2022, Mannion suffered a second ACL injury.[30] After 11 months out, she made her first appearance following her recovery in a midseason friendly against Birkirkara in Malta in January 2023.[31] On 19 July 2023, Mannion signed an undisclosed contract extension with the club.[32]

International career

Mannion is eligible to represent both England, as the country of her birth, and Ireland, where both her parents are from.[33]

England

Mannion represented England at under-15, under-17, under-19, under-20 and under-23 level.[12] She played during 2011 and 2012 UEFA Women's Under-17 Championship qualification as England reached the second round both times but failed to make the finals.

Mannion was called-up to represent England at the 2012 and 2013 UEFA Women's Under-19 Championship. She played every minute as England reached the final of the latter before losing to France.[34] Despite the loss, the result qualified the team for the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Canada.[35] Mannion again played every minute as draws against South Korea and Mexico before defeat against Nigeria saw the team finish third in the group and eliminated.

In May 2015, Mannion was named to the under-23 team for the Nordic Tournament.[36][37] In March 2016, she played for the under-23 team at the La Manga tournament.[38]

In August 2019, Mannion received her first senior England call-up for friendlies against Belgium and Norway but did not make an appearance.[39] She was recalled to the squad for the following set of fixtures against Portugal and Brazil but was again an unused substitute in both games.[40]

Republic of Ireland

In February 2023, Mannion was named to the Republic of Ireland squad by Vera Pauw for a friendly against China having opted to switch her international eligibility.[4] She made her senior international debut on 22 February, starting and playing 70 minutes of a 0–0 draw with China.[41] She was not named in Ireland's 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup squad.[42]

Career statistics

Club
As of 14 May 2023[43]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Continental[lower-alpha 1] Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Aston Villa 2012–13[44] WPL National 1303050—210
Birmingham City 2013 FA WSL 1 4000002060
2014 141203040231
2015 1412070—231
2016 1511040—201
2017 8000——80
2017–18 1832040—243
2018–19 2020061—263
Total 93870241601309
Manchester City 2019–20 FA WSL 4000003171
2020–21 3000001040
Total 70000041111
Manchester United 2021–22 WSL 1201060—190
2022–23 504000—90
Total 170506000280
Career total 130815035110119010
  1. Includes the UEFA Women's Champions League

International
Statistics accurate as of match played 8 April 2023.
YearRepublic of Ireland
AppsGoals
202320
Total20

Honours
Aston Villa
Birmingham City
Manchester City
Manchester United
England
Individual

References
  1. "Aoife Mannion". ManCity.com. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  2. "Aoife Mannion - Player Profile". Eurosport. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  3. "Manchester United vs. Tottenham Hotspur". Women Soccerway. 23 January 2022.
  4. "Mannion receives first Republic of Ireland call-up". BBC Sport.
  5. Doyle, Paul (19 March 2016). "New Women's Super League season brings new squads and a new intensity". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
  6. Brown, Paul (13 July 2012). "Mannion: Mixed gaelic football games toughened me up". avfc.co.uk. Aston Villa FC.
  7. "Aoife Mannion joins Manchester United". 2 August 2021.
  8. "Football: Aiofe signs up for Blues after starring for Reds". thefreelibrary.com.
  9. "Interview: Aoife Mannion - Maple from Canada". maplefromcanada.co.uk. October 2017.
  10. Campeau, Aaron (6 May 2013). "Aston Villa Ladies bring home trophy". 7500 To Holte.
  11. "Aoife Mannion, FA Women's Premier League Cup final". Getty Images.
  12. "Aoife Mannion". Birmingham City Ladies FC. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
  13. "Birmingham Through to Last 16". She Kicks. 16 October 2013. Archived from the original on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
  14. "Women's PFA Young Player of the Year". PFA. 16 April 2015. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
  15. Carpenter, Steve (11 February 2016). "Defender Aoife Mannion commits her future to Birmingham City Ladies". Solihull Observer. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
  16. "Birmingham City Ladies: Mannion and Sargeant sign new deals". BBC. 11 February 2016. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
  17. "2017 FA Cup final: Birmingham 1-4 Man City". www.thefa.com.
  18. "Chelsea Ladies dominate Team of Year". BBC Sport.
  19. "2018–19 PFA WSL Team Of The Year". www.thepfa.com.
  20. "Aoife Mannion opts to exit Blues". bcfc.com. Birmingham City FC.
  21. "City sign Aoife Mannion". mancity.com.
  22. Oatway, Caroline. "My Favourite Game: Aoife Mannion". mancity.com.
  23. "Man City Women hit seven in Lugano rout". BBC Sport.
  24. "Aoife Mannion: Manchester City Women defender damages knee ligaments". BBC Sport. 19 October 2019. Retrieved 20 October 2019.
  25. Oatway, Caroline. "Mewis at the double as four-star City march on". mancity.com.
  26. Oatway, Caroline. "Mannion: Sometimes you have to be thrown in the deep end!". mancity.com.
  27. "Barclays FA Women's Super League report: Tottenham Hotspur 0-3 Manchester City". womenscompetitions.thefa.com.
  28. "Three players leave City". mancity.com.
  29. "Aoife Mannion signs for United Women". Manchester United (Press release). 26 July 2021.
  30. "Aoife Mannion suffers ACL injury". Manchester United F.C. 19 March 2022. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
  31. Spencer, Jamie (7 January 2023). "Aoife Mannion reflects on return after 11 months out with ACL injury". 90Min. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
  32. "Mannion signs new United Women contract". Manchester United F.C. 19 July 2023. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  33. "My First Kit - Aoife Mannion, Manchester City Women". National Football Museum. 8 May 2020. Archived from the original on 22 August 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  34. "France's glory as Toletti ends England resistance". UEFA.com. 31 August 2013.
  35. "England squad named for Women's U20 World Cup". www.thefa.com.
  36. "Squad changes for Women's Under-23s ahead of Nordics". The Football Association. 1 June 2016. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
  37. "Women's U23s squad named for Nordic Tournament". The Football Association. 12 May 2015. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
  38. "U-20 WNT Defeats England U-23 1-0 on Ally Watt Goal in La Manga". U.S. Soccer Federation. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 6 July 2016.
  39. "Lionesses: Phil Neville names four debutants in squad for friendlies". BBC. 20 August 2019.
  40. "Nobbs back in England squad after injury". BBC Sport.
  41. "Republic of Ireland 0-0 China score recap and result from the friendly clash". Irish Mirror. 22 February 2023.
  42. Pyne, Anthony (28 June 2023). "Mannion, Campbell & Kiernan miss out on World Cup". RTÉ Sport.
  43. "Aoife Mannion". Soccerway. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  44. "Aoife Mannion – Player Stats 2012–13". fulltime.thefa.com.
  45. Mee, Rebecca (26 May 2023). "Fred and Aoife Mannion awarded PFA Community Champion awards". Manchester United. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
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