Isibeal Atkinson Explained

Izzy Atkinson
Fullname:Isibeal (Izzy) Carolan Atkinson
Height:166 cm
Birth Date:2001 7, df=yes
Birth Place:Rush, Dublin, Ireland
Position:Full-back / Winger
Currentclub:Crystal Palace
Clubnumber:77
Youthyears1:2014–2017
Youthclubs1:Enniskerry
Years1:2017–2021
Years2:2021–2022
Years3:2022–2024
Years4:2024–
Clubs1:Shelbourne
Clubs2:Celtic
Clubs3:West Ham United
Clubs4:Crystal Palace
Caps1:43
Caps2:30
Caps3:21
Caps4:10
Goals1:12
Goals2:3
Goals3:1
Goals4:2
Nationalyears1:2018–
Nationalteam1:Republic of Ireland
Nationalcaps1:15
Nationalgoals1:0
Pcupdate:27 May 2024 (UTC)
Ntupdate:10:53, 26 November 2023 (UTC)

Isibeal Carolan "Izzy" Atkinson (born 17 July 2001) is an Irish professional footballer who plays for English FA Women's Championship club Crystal Palace and the Republic of Ireland national team. She previously played for Shelbourne in Ireland before joining Celtic in 2021.

Club career

Atkinson played youth football for Rush Athletic and the Metropolitan Girls' League Academy, before spending three years with Enniskerry FC. She signed for Women's National League (WNL) club Shelbourne in July 2017.[1]

The 2020 WNL season, delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, began with Atkinson in excellent form for Shelbourne. Instead of occupying her usual position on the wing, she had been repurposed as an attacking left-back.[2] Her goal against Bohemians was named Goal of the Month for August 2020.[3]

In February 2021, Atkinson signed for Scottish Women's Premier League club Celtic.[4] She featured in Celtic's 2021–22 UEFA Women's Champions League matches, creating an equaliser against FC Minsk following a solo dribble down the pitch.[5] In May 2022 she scored an extra time winning goal in the Scottish Women's Cup final, as Celtic beat rivals Glasgow City 3–2.[6]

In July 2022, Atkinson and another young Irish player Tyler Toland both left Celtic.[7] Atkinson then joined English Women's Super League club West Ham United later that month.[8]

In January 2024, FA Women's Championship side Crystal Palace announced they had signed Atkinson on a contract until 2025.[9]

International career

In October 2017, Republic of Ireland national team coach Colin Bell named 16-year-old Atkinson in his squad for a FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying fixture in Slovakia. She won her first senior cap as a 90th-minute substitute for Leanne Kiernan in a 3–1 friendly win over Portugal at the Estádio de São Miguel, Ponta Delgada, on 22 January 2018.[10]

Atkinson's first competitive appearance for Ireland was in a 1–0 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifying defeat in Norway in June 2018. She was an 89th-minute substitute for Áine O'Gorman and was shown the yellow card.[11] She started her first match in a 1–0 friendly defeat by Belgium, staged in Murcia, Spain, on 20 January 2019.[10]

Atkinson was named in Vera Pauw's squad for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cup League cup Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Shelbourne2017Women's National League40000040
2018198201000228
2019811010101
20201231000133
Total43124020004912
Celtic2020–21SWPL1110000111
2021–22192212020253
Total303212020364
West Ham United2022–23Women's Super League1512030201
2023–2470002191
Total2212051292
Crystal Palace F.C. (loan)2023–24Championship32000032
Total32000032
Career total981881912011720

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Republic of Ireland201820
201910
202210
202370
Total110

Notes and References

  1. News: Kearney . Diarmuid . Shelbourne Ladies announce signing of Isibeal Atkinson . 18 September 2020 . Extratime.com . 30 July 2017.
  2. thewnlshow. 1296371526829318144. 20 August 2020. We spoke to Shels Izzy Atkinson after her first goal of the season for Shels last night a lovely strike from the full back who’s had superb start to the season.
  3. FAI_WNL. 1300872005886054402. 1 September 2020. And the winner of the #WNL August Goal of the Month is... @shelsfc ace Isibeal Atkinson for this thunderbolt High voltage sign.
  4. News: Pyne . Anthony . Izzy Atkinson walking on air after dream Celtic move . 4 April 2021 . RTÉ Sport . 2 February 2021.
  5. News: Rodden . Mark . Pauw's foreign legion return to clubs before qualifiers . 31 July 2022 . . 4 September 2021.
  6. News: Ryan . Larry . Ireland international Izzy Atkinson wins Scottish Cup for Celtic . 31 July 2022 . . 29 May 2022.
  7. News: Duffy . Emma . Irish international duo depart Celtic, Littlejohn stays on at Villa . 31 July 2022 . The42.ie . 5 July 2022.
  8. News: Duffy . Emma . 'Dream come true' – Promising Ireland international signs for West Ham . 31 July 2022 . The42.ie . 15 July 2022.
  9. News: Izzy Atkinson joins Crystal Palace Women . 27 January 2024 . Crystal Palace Football Club . 27 January 2024.
  10. News: Duffy . Emma . 'I couldn't ask for any more to be honest... I'm living my dream, as cringe as that sounds' . 18 September 2020 . The42.ie . 28 March 2019.
  11. Web site: Women World Cup Qualifiers Europe 2017/2018 » Teams (Republic of Ireland) . WorldFootball.net . 29 August 2019.