Diane Caldwell has admitted that she will miss everything about being part of the Irish team after announcing her retirement from international football today.
The Irish defender first played for Ireland at the Under-17 and Under-19 levels before making the step up to the women’s senior team in 2006. During her Ireland tenure, Caldwell scored four goals in total during her WNT career. These were against Northern Ireland, Greece, Montenegro, and Georgia.
Caldwell was part of the historic Irish squad that made it to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The Balbriggan native is also one of seven players to have featured 100 times for her country and led the team to victory in their 5-1 win over Albania last year.
The Irish centre-back admitted she was immensely proud of her career and loved every minute of her time wearing the Ireland jersey.
"For me, playing for Ireland was everything, but now it's the right time for me to stop. The way I look at my career is that I was an obsessed fan who was lucky enough to have a bit of talent and a load of determination to make it. I was 100% committed to doing all I possibly could to play for Ireland. Every time I put on the green jersey, I felt the utmost pride and passion to do the country justice. I absolutely loved every minute—battling in the back line, putting my body on the line, and defending the goal with everything I had," said Caldwell.
Caldwell also revealed that making it to the first-ever Women’s World Cup was a childhood dream come true.
A message from Diane Caldwell…
After 18 years and 102 caps, Diane brings her international career to a close 🇮🇪
From your first cap to your last, you’ve inspired us all. Thank you, Di! ☘️ pic.twitter.com/tCPabb0fuE
— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) January 13, 2025
"My dream was to achieve our first-ever qualification to a major tournament and put our small but mighty nation on the map. On that night in Hampden Park, after 17 years of trying, we finally achieved the goal we all longed for. The tricolour would fly down under at the 2023 World Cup. Representing Ireland on that world stage was the greatest honour of all and a childhood dream come true. Through utter togetherness and a team camaraderie that I have never experienced on any other team, we prevailed through so many obstacles, challenges, and ups and downs along the way," she added.
The Irish centre-back explained further in the video that she will miss everything about the Irish team and what it represents. However, what stood out most for her was earning her 100th cap for Ireland.
"As my favourite saying goes, 'Ní neart go cur le chéile'—and boy, did we have that in abundance. What will I miss most? Everything. From the most mundane to the most obvious, I'll miss it all. Most of all, I'll miss celebrating our goals. I absolutely loved that: the roar from the crowd and the sheer joy and jubilation with your teammates. I dedicated my life to Ireland for 21 years. From when I made my debut at 14 years old for the Under-17s to making my senior debut at 17 years old, it's a journey I'm immensely proud of.
"One moment that was particularly special for me was earning my 100th cap. Walking out with my niece and nephew hand in hand, with my whole family in the stands, as they always were, meant so much to me. Sharing it with the ones who were there from the very beginning was incredibly special."
Ending the video, Caldwell gave a heartfelt thank you to the fans for their unwavering support throughout the years.
"Before I go, I must say a huge, huge thank you to you, the fans. Thank you for your love and unwavering support throughout all these years. You truly are the best fans in the world."
