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Thursday, February 19, 2026

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McKenna is Northern Ireland player of the year

Rebecca McKenna has been chosen as Northern Ireland senior women’s team player of the year by Northern Ireland fans.

McKenna got the most votes in a social media poll carried out among members of the Green and White Army.

To date the 24-year-old, who made her senior debut in 2018, has earned 57 caps for her country and scored two goals.

The Birmingham City defender received her 2025 player of the year trophy at the club’s training ground from fellow Northern Ireland international and Blues player Rebecca Holloway.

McKenna, who thanked the GAWA for voting for her, said: “It’s an incredible achievement just playing for your country alone but obviously to have the fans vote for you as player of the year is pretty surreal.”

She said reaching the UEFA Women’s Nations League promotion/relegation play-off against Iceland back in the autumn was her highlight of 2025. The 24-year-old said although Northern Ireland were defeated across the two legs by a strong Icelandic side they acquitted themselves well against a top European team.

McKenna is a regular starter in a Birmingham team who currently sit second in the Women’s Super League 2 table and are pushing for promotion to the WSL.

The defender insisted there are lots of exciting young players coming through the ranks in Northern Ireland and the squad are excited about competing in World Cup qualifiers this year.

She said the upcoming games against Switzerland, Turkiye and Malta will provide “some tough tests” but the players are keen to challenge themselves in the matches.

(irishfa.com)