Maria McAneny

Raised in East Kilbride[1] where she attended St Andrew's and St Bride's High School,[2] McAneny first played football in her hometown alongside boys a year older than her.

[4] For the 2021–22 season she joined Heart of Midlothian on loan and performed strongly, being among the nominees for the inaugural PFA Scotland Women's Young Player of the Year award.

[4][5] After returning to Celtic she became a well-used squad member noted for her versatility[4] (though not an undisputed starter in any position),[6] with the signing of her first full-time professional contract with the club in May 2023 – running to 2026 – being followed two days later by victory in the 2022–23 Scottish Women's Cup in which she was in the starting XI against Rangers at Hampden Park.

[7] A member of the group which won the 2023–24 Scottish Women's Premier League title, she featured less often compared to the previous campaign (13 appearances without scoring, compared to two goals in 18 games).

In Celtic's 2024–25 UEFA Women's Champions League campaign McAneny featured seven times, coming off the bench on each occasion,[8] as the club qualified for the group stages for the first time but then lost all six matches.