Northern Ireland captain Magill announces pregnancy

Simone Magill, the head coach of Northern Ireland and the striker for Birmingham City, has revealed her pregnancy.

On Wednesday, the 31-year-old announced the news to her Birmingham team-mates on social media along with her husband, Mark.

According to Magill, “something says the upcoming year will be the best one yet,” she wrote on Instagram.

For the remainder of the season, Magill won’t play in the 2027 World Cup qualifiers, which will start in March.

Birmingham City, the WSL2 club, has stated that Magill will continue to receive “light training” while working for the team and that the team’s medical and performance staff will assist her “throughout her pregnancy and beyond.”

She would “make an amazing parent,” according to Amy Merricks, Birmingham head coach for Magill.

We’re looking forward to supporting her throughout her pregnancy, and we’re excited to welcome a Bluenose baby, according to Merricks.

Si is supposed to remain as close to the environment as possible.

We look forward to supporting her as she continues to stay focused and play a crucial role in this season.

Due to a hip problem, Magill missed Northern Ireland’s Nations League play-off defeat against Iceland at the end of October and last played for Birmingham in September.

She was named captain by Tanya Oxtoby in October 2024 after winning her first of her 95 NI caps as a teenager in 2010.