Examining who could crack Canada Soccer’s shortlist for next women’s head coach

Canada Soccer has announced the departure of Bev Priestman, along with assistant coach Jasmine Mander and analyst Joey Lombardi, from the women’s team following the drone spying scandal at the Paris 2024 Olympics. In their statement released on Wednesday, Canada Soccer stated that the search for a new head coach would commence shortly.

Priestman, who took over as head coach in November 2020, had recently signed a contract extension that would have taken her through the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. However, with the need to rebuild trust and culture within the team, a new coach must be found to continue the success of the program.

Canada’s women’s team has had significant success at the Olympics, including back-to-back bronze medals in 2012 and 2016, as well as a historic gold medal in Tokyo. However, the team has yet to achieve similar success at the World Cup stage, with their best result being a fourth-place finish in 2003.

Several candidates have been suggested for the role of head coach, including Andy Spence, the current interim head coach who led the team during the Paris 2024 Olympics. Carmelina Moscato, a former player for Canada who has coaching experience at various levels, and Rhian Wilkinson, a former Canadian national team player and current head coach of the Welsh women’s team, are also potential candidates.

Tony Gustavssson, who previously coached the Australian women’s national team, and Casey Stoney, a former English international with coaching experience in the WSL and NWSL, are also being considered for the position. Each candidate brings a unique set of skills and experiences that could benefit the team as they strive for success on the world stage.

The search for a new head coach is a crucial step in moving forward from the drone spying scandal and ensuring the continued success of the women’s team. Canada Soccer will be looking for a candidate who can not only lead the team to victory but also foster a positive team culture and build trust among the players. The future of the women’s team looks promising with the potential appointment of a new head coach who can guide them to even greater heights.