Position: Midfielder
Birthdate: October 6, 1990
Hometown: Dublin, Ireland
Height: 5-foot-8
Pronunciation: Niall McCabe
Previous Team: Young Harris College
Louisville City FC midfielder Niall McCabe retired on the heels of the 2025 season after an 11-season professional career spent entirely with the club — the longest stint of any USL Championship player with one team in league history.
McCabe is the only player from LouCity’s inaugural roster of 2015 to have never left. He appeared in multiple games — registering at least one goal or assist — in each season of Louisville City’s 11-year history.
McCabe finished his career second all time in club history in games played, third in assists, third in minutes played and tied for ninth in goals. As a club, during McCabe’s time City won two USL Championship titles (2017 and 2018), two USL Championship Players’ Shields (2024 and 2025) and four USL Championship Eastern Conference titles (2017, 2018, 2019 and 2022).
Highlights in Purple: As of the 2025 season, McCabe ranked second in all-time appearances for the club with 255. He was a pivotal part in 2017 and 2018 title runs, particularly in 2018 when he went the full 90 in three of four postseason games, scoring 2 goals. The midfielder was on pace for one of his best campaigns in purple before suffering a broken foot during warmups ahead of an August 13, 2022, victory over Tampa Bay Rowdies. McCabe, who had a late start to the season due to illness, had rebounded to number 3 goals and 5 assists in 11 starts. The native Irishman made his 200th club appearance in purple on July 22, 2023, against Birmingham Legion FC.
Before Louisville City: McCabe came to America to attend Division II Young Harris College in Georgia along with future LouCity teammates Ilija Ilic and Paco Craig. Before signing his first pro deal with LouCity, he played for NPSL side Chattanooga FC, leading them to the final against New York Cosmos B.
