Casey Stoney named San Diego NWSL head coach after Manchester United exit

Casey Stoney has been announced as the head coach of National Women’s Soccer League expansion team San Diego NWSL.

The former England international left her role as Manchester United manager at the end of the last Women’s Super League campaign after three seasons in charge. San Diego are currently preparing for their debut season in the NWSL. The team president is the former United States head coach, Jill Ellis.

“I am extremely excited and motivated to lead San Diego NWSL on the field next season and beyond,” Stoney told the team’s official website. “Jill and this ownership group are deeply committed to building a world-class club both on and off the field.

“I look forward to being a part of creating our culture and style of play as a team,” the 39-year old added. “I am eager to begin work immediately ahead of our inaugural year of competition in NWSL next season.”

“Casey is one of the most decorated, distinguished and talented English players of all time and has transitioned seamlessly in her role as a manager,” Ellis said. “She immediately turned Manchester United Women into respected contenders and established herself as one of the top managers in the league.”

“Casey has all of the qualities we want in our manager and she is fully committed to making San Diego NWSL a globally successful club and brand led by powerful and talented women,” Ellis added. “We are thrilled to secure her as our manager and look forward to what she will bring to our club and city.”

Jill Ellis, who won the Women’s World Cup twice as US national coach, is now the president of San Diego NWSL.
Jill Ellis, who won the Women’s World Cup twice as US national coach, is now the president of San Diego NWSL. Photograph: Kamil Krzaczyński/AP

Stoney played for Arsenal, Charlton and Chelsea among others and made 130 England appearances before joining the England coaching staff under then-head coach Phil Neville. She took charge at Manchester United in their first season as a professional team, guiding them to the 2018-19 Championship title.

The coach has since secured successive fourth-placed finishes in the Women’s Super League, finishing last season just one point behind third-placed Arsenal, who qualified for the Women’s Champions League.

Stoney left United unexpectedly in May amid uncertainty over the team’s training facilities and schedule. She had recently been linked with the men’s team manager role at Wrexham, the club owned by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenny.

San Diego will join the NWSL for the 2022 season along with Angel City, a Los Angeles-based franchise backed by a majority-female ownership group co-founded by actor Natalie Portman, and with investment from Jessica Chastain, Eva Longoria and Serena Williams, among others.

source: theguardian.com