When the NWSL launched as the US women’s league in 2013, just one team was led by an English coach. A decade on, as the 2023 campaign began in March, that number had risen to eight. Only two of the division’s 12 coaches were American.
It’s an intriguing statistic. However, the number of English bosses in the NWSL (National Women’s Soccer League) has been rising steadily for several years, during a period when the reputation of England’s own WSL and women’s national team has grown significantly.
Over the past 10 years, coaches have opted to cross the Atlantic for a variety of reasons. Some entered the college system; others moved there initially to play. Former Middlesbrough defender Seb Hines joined Orlando City in 2015 and last year became the head coach of Orlando Pride, managing Brazilian legend Marta, assisted by ex-Derby forward Giles Barnes. Others went to the United States for the short term, such as Manchester United Women’s boss, Marc Skinner – formerly the coach of Orlando Pride – or current Liverpool Women manager Matt Beard, previously with Boston Breakers.
Despite the growth of women’s football in the UK, some are still lured by the infrastructure and facilities on offer in the States, where the female game has been very strong for decades – the US national team has won four of the eight World Cups held to date. In 2021, former England captain Casey Stoney stepped down at Manchester United and was announced as the boss of the new NWSL franchise, San Diego Wave.
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