Team-mates pay tribute to departing Aoife Mannion

Manchester United Women’s players have been paying tribute to the popular Aoife Mannion, who will leave the club when her contract expires at the end of this month.

The news was announced on Thursday as confirmation of a double departure, with the versatile defender bidding farewell to the club at the same time as Academy graduate Alyssa Aherne.

Mannion joined the Reds in 2021 after two seasons at crosstown rivals Manchester City and went on to become a fan favourite across four years here, in which she gave her all for the United cause.

The Republic of Ireland international helped us to twice qualify for the Champions League – something we hadn’t achieved before her arrival – and reach three consecutive Adobe FA Cup finals, most memorably featuring in the 2024 edition as the team beat Tottenham Hotspur to claim our first major honour.

Her first goal away to Wolves earlier this year was another high, but Aoife has also been challenged with some injury lows, including suffering the second ACL (anterior-cruciate ligament) injury of her career, which she showed incredible character and resilience to overcome.

Those qualities, along with the steely spirit and technical quality that she offers on the pitch, are sure to have contributed towards Aoife's popularity in the dressing room, and the love the squad has for her is clear in the comments to the defender's heartfelt farewell post on Instagram.

“Thank you @manutdwomen for the most incredible four years,” Mannion begins. “It has been the wildest ride and I’m so lucky to have been a part of it.

“It’s been such a privilege to be part of a team with so much talent and ambition and the most ‘together’ group I’ve been a part of. Lifting the FA Cup together was a dream come true. Thank you to the girls for being such a laugh and so supportive during my injuries.

“Thank you to the brilliant staff for working so hard, especially behind the scenes, and steering us in the right direction to compete for trophies and qualify for Champions League.

“Best of luck to all of our Academy girls coming up through the age groups, I’ve loved coming down to watch training and do some coaching. The future is bright for all of them… so much personality and talent.

“Special mention to our brilliant catering staff who prepare our food every day - anyone who sees my Insta stories will know how incredible Chef Jimmy’s food has been for us, thanks also Suzanne, Julie and Tracey. You’ve been unreal looking after us and you don’t realise how much your attention to the little details every day at breakfast and lunch helps our performance on the pitch.

“And finally, thank you to the fans… you’ve been incredible and, every time I’ve walked out wearing the badge, I’ve wanted to embody what you bring to us from the sidelines: passion, commitment and intensity.

“I’ll always be rooting for this team, this group of girls and this badge.”