Manager Tanya Oxtoby has named Birmingham City forward Simone Magill as the new Northern Ireland captain.
Magill will replace Cliftonville midfielder Marissa Callaghan, who announced in May that she would be relinquishing the armband after 52 games and eight years as skipper
Rangers defender Laura Rafferty served as interim captain during the summer, however Oxtoby opted for Magill as Callaghan’s permanent replacement.
Oxtoby said: “From our point of view we have gone through a diligent process.
“We have really defined what leadership is and what behaviours leaders in our group should have and essentially Simone epitomises everything a leader is in terms of her professionalism and behaviour, and also the way that she looks at how we develop, which is a massive part of what we’re trying to do,” she explained.
Magill, who turns 30 on 1 November, has won 85 caps for her country to date. The striker made her international debut – aged just 15 – against Scotland in May 2010. The Magherafelt woman has scored 25 goals for her country.
The forward will now don the armband for the two upcoming Euro 2025 play-off games against Croatia.
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland defender Sarah McFadden has announced that she is pregnant with her second child.
The first leg is at the Stadion Varteks in Varazdin on Friday (6pm), while the second leg is at at Windsor Park next Tuesday at 7pm.
If Northern Ireland defeat the Croatians in the two-legged contest they will face the winners either Norway or Albania home and away in a play-off for a slot at Euro 2025 in Switzerland.