Canada Soccer Taps Casey Stoney as New Women's Team Coach
Casey Stoney. The former San Diego Wave coach will take the helm of the sixth-ranked Canadian squad, filling the vacancy left by Bev Priestman's departure during the Paris Olympics.
Priestman, along with assistant coach Jasmine Mander and analyst Joey Lombardi, were embroiled in a drone-spying scandal and subsequently handed one-year bans by FIFA. Their departure left a void in the coaching staff, which Canada Soccer has now filled with the experienced Stoney.
While Canada Soccer remains tight-lipped about the appointment, multiple reports suggest Stoney has been chosen for the role. The 42-year-old boasts an impressive resume, having led San Diego to their first two trophies – the 2023 NWSL Shield and the 2024 Challenge Cup – during her tenure as their inaugural coach.
Prior to her time in the NWSL, Stoney made history as the first-ever head coach of the Manchester United women's team, guiding them to the Championship title and promotion to the top-tier Women's Super League in their inaugural season. As a player, Stoney was a decorated defender, earning 130 caps for England and captaining the side.
With Stoney at the helm, Canada Soccer hopes to rebuild the women's national team and restore its position as a global force in women's football. The team will face a crucial test in the upcoming 2024 Olympics, where they will aim to improve upon their bronze medal finish in Paris.
8 Comments
Jordan
Let's wait and see how she performs before throwing our full support behind her. Cautiously optimistic, but not convinced yet.
The Truth
Hoping she can create a positive team environment and get everyone on the same page, but concerned this might be a band-aid solution.
Answer
Her time with Manchester United was impressive, but can she replicate that success here? Different country, different players.
The Truth
Is she prepared for the media scrutiny and high expectations in Canada? The spotlight here is intense.
Michelangelo
Giving Stoney the Olympics as her baptism by fire? Talk about pressure! Hoping for the best, but worried for the players.
Raphael
Wishing Stoney the best, but Canada Soccer needs to do better at addressing the underlying issues if they want to truly succeed.
Leonardo
Let's see how she handles our diverse squad and tackles the cultural issues within the team before we celebrate.
Donatello
Thrilled to have Coach Stoney at the helm! Her credentials speak for themselves. Let's go Canada!