Marissa Callaghan: Midfielder steps down as NI captain

Marissa Callaghan has been the face of women’s football in Northern Ireland throughout the most successful period in the team’s history.

Her standing in the game is up there with the legends of NI football – in both the men’s and women’s game.

Leading Northern Ireland at Euro 2022, having battled to make the tournament after an injury scare, was a monumental achievement and she has inspired not only her players, but the next generation.

Callaghan may no longer be captain but she will still have plenty to offer the team and squad as a leader, but now attention will turn as to who will wear the armband for May’s fixtures with Portugal and beyond.

Southampton defender Laura Rafferty will be one of the frontrunners after being handed the armband on a number of occasions in Callaghan’s absence.

“I feel like Raff and Marissa complement each other really well, with their leadership styles and what they bring to the group,” Oxtoby said in April.

“We have got so many leaders in this group. To have Raff lead from the back when Marissa is not on the pitch, it’s just a natural thing for me.”

Northern Ireland are not short of leaders with Simone Magill, Lauren Wade, Demi Vance, Nadene Caldwell, Rachel Furness and the injured Sarah McFadden all having more than 50 caps.

There are a number of exciting young players coming through, with 22-year-old Glentoran midfielder Joely Andrews tipped to be a Northern Ireland captain in the future.

It worked for the Republic of Ireland and Katie McCabe, who was handed the armband at 21, so could Oxtoby be tempted to take a similar approach?