Priestman Returns to Coaching with Wellington Phoenix After Olympic Drone Controversy

Bev Priestman, recently dismissed as Canada's women's coach following her involvement in a drone incident at the Paris Olympics, is set to resume her coaching career in New Zealand with Wellington Phoenix.

The 39-year-old English coach, who previously guided Canada to Olympic gold in 2021, has just served a one-year ban from football-related activities imposed by FIFA. This ban stemmed from her role in using a drone to observe a closed New Zealand training session during the Summer Games.

Phoenix has offered Priestman a two-year contract to coach their women's team. The team concluded the recent Australian A-League Women season in ninth place out of twelve teams.

Phoenix chairman Rob Morrison expressed the club's pleasure in welcoming Priestman back to football, acknowledging her time away from the game and expressing confidence in the appointment. He highlighted this as a significant step forward for the Phoenix women's team.

Priestman is familiar with her new surroundings, having previously held the position of director of football development for New Zealand Football. She is also married to Emma Humphries, a former Football Ferns midfielder and current academy director for Phoenix.

Priestman expressed her gratitude to the club for the opportunity to return to the sport, hoping to create memorable moments for both the city and the country. She noted the remarkable presence of Phoenix as the sole professional women's team in New Zealand and emphasized the team's responsibility to represent the country and strive for exceptional achievements.