Stephanie Roche

Early career

In June 2007, Zambra moved to Dundalk City and reportedly enjoyed a "dream debut", scoring twice in a 5–2 win over Benfica. After moving on to Raheny United, Zambra went on trial with English FA WSL club Doncaster Rovers Belles in February 2011, playing in a 4–0 friendly win over Blackburn Rovers.

Peamount United

In the inaugural 2011–12 Women's National League season, Zambra won the Golden Boot by scoring 26 goals for champions Peamount United. She formed a "devastating" striking partnership with Player of the Year Sara Lawlor. Zambra also scored the winner in the WNL Cup final to secure a double. In August 2011, Zambra played for Peamount United in the 2011–12 UEFA Women's Champions League. Following Peamount's elimination by Paris Saint-Germain Féminine, Zambra rejected a transfer offer from FC Vendenheim. She recaptured the league Golden Boot from team-mate Lawlor in the 2013–14 Women's National League campaign.

FIFA Puskás Award

Zambra scored an acclaimed goal for Peamount against Wexford Youths in October 2013 which went viral on YouTube and brought her international attention. It was her first goal of the WNL season and was uploaded to the internet by team manager Eileen Gleeson as the matches were not televised. Zambra was glad it was captured for posterity: "It's just good for us now to get that on camera, it gives the Women's National League a bit of publicity as well as girls' football in Ireland, and I'm happy to be a…

Youth

Zambra represented the Republic of Ireland at the youth level, saying: "I just missed out in the final trials for Ireland under 15s and I was really heartbroken. But then I made the team at under 17s." In August 2005, she scored the winning goal on her under 19 debut, securing a 3–2 win over Finland at Richmond Park. In three seasons at the under-19 level, Zambra remained a regular pick and was the team's top-goalscorer.

Senior

Zambra's senior international debut came in a 3–0 UEFA Women's Euro 2009 qualifying play-off defeat by Iceland in October 2008. She replaced Stef Curtis for the last five minutes of the match at Laugardalsvöllur. In September 2009, Zambra scored her first senior goal, a late winner in the 2–1 World Cup qualifying win over Kazakhstan at Turners Cross. In the following month's return fixture, Roche made her first start for the Irish senior team. She scored again, the equaliser in another 2–1 win for Ireland. Zambra scored her third goal for Ireland during a home friendly defeat by France in March 2010. Despite her equaliser, a controversial penalty from Sonia Bompastor and Marie-Laure Delie's late winner gave the French victory. National coach Susan Ronan dropped Zambra from the squad for a friendly with Austria in June 2013 and the subsequent 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup qualifiers. This left her disappointed but keen to win back her place: "I was dropped against Austria and wasn't told why or what the story was. I've played for…

Zambra began playing street football in her native Shankill. After a brief spell with Valeview Shankill FC, Zambra turned out for Cabinteely Girls. She progressed to playing for Stella Maris, where she struck up a forward partnership with Áine O'Gorman in the club's Under-18 team. In 2008 Zambra was awarded a Football Association of Ireland (FAI) scholarship to Sallynoggin College. She was named in an Irish Colleges team which travelled to Scotland for two friendlies in April 2009.

At the time of her famous goal in October 2013, Zambra had been in a relationship with footballer Dean Zambra for almost seven years. She was an intern on the Football Association of Ireland's (FAI) Futsal project. She is a self-described Manchester United supporter. Stephanie and Dean were married in June 2022, after 15 years together.