Louisville City FC authentic Niall McCabe publicizes retirement

McCabe began and performed 90 minutes in LouCity’s inaugural recreation, a 2-0 win over Saint Louis FC on March 15, 2015 earlier than 6,067 followers at Louisville Slugger Field.

In greater than a decade since, McCabe has helped Louisville City grow to be the USL Championship’s winningest membership and to fill its trophy cupboard with two USL Championship titles (2017 and 2018), two USL Championship Players’ Shields (2024 and 2025) and 4 USL Championship Eastern Conference titles (2017, 2018, 2019 and 2022).

In 2018, McCabe turned the primary participant to report 100 appearances for the membership. It was a part of a career-best season wherein he scored six objectives and registered six assists between the common season and playoffs, en path to the membership’s second consecutive title. McCabe scored a pair of objectives in a playoff win over Indy Eleven, then registered assists in playoff wins in opposition to Bethlehem Steel FC and New York Red Bulls II. He performed all 90 minutes within the USL Championship Final, as LouCity defeated Phoenix Rising FC.

McCabe finishes his profession second all-time in membership historical past in video games performed, third in assists, third in minutes performed and tied for ninth in objectives.

“I cannot thank Niall enough for his contributions to Louisville City FC. On the field and in the community, his character is what we will forever be grateful for,” stated LouCity Head Coach Danny Cruz. “When I got the chance in 2021 to become the interim head coach, it was players like Niall that helped push me to become a better coach. He is a great leader, a great person, and will be missed here at Louisville City. On behalf of the club, I want to thank him for everything that he contributed over a fantastic career, and I am looking forward to seeing what the future holds for him. There is not a doubt in my mind that he will be successful in his next endeavor because he is a winner.”

Raised in East Wall in inner-city Dublin, Ireland, McCabe performed for native golf equipment Cambridge Boys and Ashbourne United, amongst others, transferring to Ratoath in close by County Meath as a youngster.

In 2010, McCabe performed for the City of Dublin’s Coláiste Íde College of Further Education, the place he had enrolled in a soccer course. On a visit to the United States he was scouted by Mark McKeever, the pinnacle coach at Young Harris College in Georgia, who provided him a scholarship.

He joined the Mountain Lions soccer program throughout its transition from a junior faculty outfit to NCAA Division II program, competing within the Peach Belt Conference. McCabe performed for Young Harris from 2010 to 2014, alongside future LouCity teammates Ilia Ilic and Paco Craig. McCabe graduated tied for this system’s all-time help lead and as its second-leading scorer. He earned a number of All-Region staff choices throughout his collegiate profession.

While in faculty, McCabe performed within the pre-professional National Premier Soccer League for the Knoxville Force and Chattanooga FC, the place he was a part of a league runners-up staff in 2014.

In November 2014, McCabe traveled to Louisville for a tryout with Louisville City FC the place he earned a contract. McCabe signed with the membership beneath head coach James O’Connor in February 2015 forward of the membership’s inaugural season.

“Niall has been an amazing role model to our community for over a decade, and for that, we are both thankful and very appreciative of all his efforts,” stated O’Connor, now LouCity’s President. “I can still remember him in that first year working his tail off in preseason at 6:30 a.m. as we were surrounded by eight inches of snow and had to train indoors. He pushed hard to maximize what he had and made sure his teammates were as committed as he was. It’s been an amazing journey we have all shared with Niall and as he moves on to the next chapter, he goes with our very best wishes.”

McCabe and his spouse, Ashleigh, have two youngsters, Luca and Charlotte. The McCabe household has made their house in Louisville’s East End.