Abbie McManus

Early career and Manchester City

Prestwich-born McManus began playing football with her brother Scott. She joined a boys' team, then Bury Girls, where she was named Under-16s Most Improved Player in 2008. She signed for FA Women's Premier League Northern Division club Manchester City and established herself in the team which won the League and promotion to the National Division in 2011–12.

Sheffield FC

In August 2013, McManus transferred to Sheffield FC, making 13 league appearances during her single season at the club as Sheffield won the FA Women's Premier League Northern Division title.

Return to Manchester City

When Sheikh Mansour-backed Manchester City successfully bid for an FA WSL franchise in 2014, McManus returned to the club. She made her top division debut for Manchester City in May 2014 against Everton at the Etihad Stadium. She scored her first goal for the club against Liverpool during the 2014 WSL Cup. The team went on to win the WSL Cup after defeating Arsenal 1–0 in the final. In April 2015, she competed in the 2015–16 FA Women's Cup. Manchester City were eliminated by Chelsea in the semi-finals.

In August 2016, she suffered an ankle injury that prevented her from playing in the remaining part of the 2016 FA WSL season. In December 2016, she re-signed with Manchester City. In 2017, she made her UEFA Women's Champions League debut in Manchester City's 1–0 win over Fortuna Hjørring. She agreed to extend her Manchester City contract…

In February 2018, McManus was in an Asda supermarket buying some eggs when she received a telephone call informing her of her first call-up to the senior England team. She was a late replacement for Steph Houghton, who withdrew from the squad for the 2018 SheBelieves Cup with an injured ankle. At the opening match of the tournament, a 4–1 win over France, McManus won her first cap as a 14th-minute substitute for Anita Asante.

She retained her place in the squad for England's successful 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification campaign and hailed the influence of new national team coach Phil Neville: "I didn't seem to be ticking the boxes when Mark Sampson and Mo Marley were in charge but that seems to have changed since Phil has been involved. I'm really enjoying things under Phil because he's very tactical and that's what we like at City, too. I'm delighted to be picked for the seniors and I hope I can continue to be picked. I want to improve under Phil and learn from him." In February 2019, McManus was called up for her second consecutive SheBelieves Cup, making two appearances as England won the tournament for the first time. In June 2019, McManus was selected in England's 23-player squad for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup in France. She made three appearances including two starts as England reached the semi-finals. McManus was allotted 202 when the Football Association announced their legacy numbers scheme to honour the 50th anniversary of England’s inaugural…

McManus was medically retired from professional football. Following her retirement, she began training and work as a firefighter with the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service.

McManus' brother Scott is also a footballer; he last played for non-league side Coalville Town. McManus was in a relationship with GB national handball player and former London 2012 Olympian Holly Lam-Moores. In 2026, she appeared on the television dating show First Dates, during which she said she now worked as a firefighter.