Fifa Puskas Award runner-up Stephanie Roche has announced she has signed a two-year contract with the Texas-based Houston Dash soccer team to play in the US National Women Soccer League (NWSL).
Speaking on RTÉ Radio, Roche said she was really grateful for the opportunity to move to the US and play with the world-famous women's soccer league.
“I’m the first Irish woman to ever go over and play there,” said Roche. “I’ve been given a huge opportunity by Houston Dash and I’m hoping I’ll be able to go over and do well and hopefully be successful over there.”
Houston Dash is one of only two NWSL teams affiliated with the US Major League Soccer teams, the second being The Portland Thorns.
"There's only two in the league that are affiliated with the men's team," said Roche. "Houston Dash are now affiliated with Houston Dynamo who Owen Coyle is the manager of so there's a bit of an Irish connection there."
The 25-year-old Dubliner made headlines earlier this year after her 2013 strike playing with Peamount United against Wexford Youths was nominated for the Puskas Goal of the Year award.
Roche's goal attracted over one million votes from members of the public and came in at second place behind Colombia's James Rodriguez at the Fifa Ballon d'Or awards in January of this year.
Roche says she was approached by a number of soccer teams from the UK and mainland Europe following the international attention of the awards ceremony in Zurich. However, she says an offer from a US team was the real dream.
“I’ve said all along that I’d love to go play in America and given the opportunity I was never going to turn it down.”
Roche admits the absence of a language barrier was an added bonus of playing with a US soccer team.
In January, the Republic of Ireland player announced she had decided to leave French club ASPTT Albi after only six months playing with the team. Her decision to leave was cited at the time as being due to “homesick and the difficulties in adapting due to the language barrier”.
Roche reiterated on RTÉ radio the difficulties she encountered when trying to adapt to life in a foreign country where she did not speak the language.
“The big problem in France was the language barrier. It was something I suppose I didn’t consider before I went over and I had to take my time with this deal.
“I was offered other clubs in Europe but I thought America, being with the English language and that not being a problem, I thought it was a definite go for me.”
Roche says she looks forward to playing playing in a professional league travelling to different cities around the US .
“It might sound very glamorous, we’ll be flying to New York, Boston... but at the end of the day it’s football, it’s professional league, and I’ll be just seeing the airport and the stadium.”
She also says she’s delighted her boyfriend Dean Zambra, who plays for Bray Wanderers, will be able to join her in the States to help her adjust to life playing with Houston Dash.
“He’s going to come on a holiday visa for the first three months and we come back in June, we get back for a week or so, so he’s going to maybe look for a club over there. But I’m delighted to have him there with me, it will make things a lot easier for me and I’ll be able to settle in a lot easier.”
Houston Dash head coach Randy Waldrum has said he is very excited to be signing Roche up to the Texas soccer team.
“We are getting a player that has great technical ability, a superb left foot, and possibly the best goalscorer to come out of Ireland since Olivia O’Toole,” said Waldrum in a statement on the club’s website.
“Stephanie will bring a wealth of international experience to our team, and another great attacking option that is different from what we have already. All our Dash fans and fans of women’s soccer in general will be excited about this signing.”
Roche is scheduled to play four games with the women’s Republic of Ireland team in Croatia before flying out to the States in early March.
