Ireland goalkeeper Emma Byrne leaves Arsenal after 17 years
Credit: Laszlo Geczo (ETPhotos)
The Republic of Ireland's record-breaking goalkeeper Emma Byrne is to leave Arsenal at the end of her contract after 17 years in north London.
The Kildare native has won an incredible 27 medals with the Gunners since joining in 2000, including 11 league titles, ten FA Cups, five league cups and one UEFA Women's Cup.
Byrne played her youth football with her local club Leixlip United before signing for St Patrick's Athletic, where she won the first of her 125 international cups as a 16-year-old against Belgium in 1996.
Her performances in green brought the attention of England's most successful club, and she signed with Arsenal in January of 2000.
— emma byrne (@emmsb30) December 30, 2016
Byrne's first season saw the club win the treble, and the club would go on to win the league in eight of the following nine seasons.
In 2006-07, Byrne was again at the heart of Arsenal's success as they again scooped a domestic treble and the UEFA Women's Cup, the precursor to the Women's Champions League.
In recent years, the FA-qualified coach has worked with Arsenal's academy.
A statement posted on the Arsenal Ladies website concluded: “Everyone at Arsenal would like to thank Emma for her commitment and contribution to the club, and to wish her the very best for her future.”
