Ex-England coach appointed Wales boss in bid for Euro 2025 qualification

26 February 2024 , 19:00

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Rhian Wilkinson has been appointed new Wales Women manager (Image: Photo by Ira L. Black/Getty Images)

Former England Women assistant manager Rhian Wilkinson has been appointed the new manager of Wales Women, with her contract set to run until 2027.

Wales have been without a permanent manager since the start of the year following Gemma Grainger's decision to take on the head coach role with the Norway women's national team. Grainger's departure marked an end to a nearly three year tenure with Wales, in which the former Leeds and Middlesbrough boss led them to the verge of qualification for the 2023 Women’s World Cup before losing out to a last-minute goal in extra time during the playoff final against Switzerland.

Wales went on to endure a difficult Nations League campaign as Grainger’s side finished bottom of their group with just a single point and relegated from League A. Even so, the 41-year-old's departure is understood to have taken many in the FAW by surprise with Grainger expected to take Wales through to the UEFA Euro2025 qualifiers.

And with the Euro2025 qualifying campaign set to commence in April, the FAW have hired Canadian centurion and two-time Olympic bronze medallist Wilkinson in a bid to reach next summer’s Euros.

Wilkinson arrives with an impressive pedigree on either side of the touchline. The Canada international made 183 appearances for the national team and helped her side to two bronze medal finishes at the 2012 and 2016 summer Olympic Games and a quarter-final finish at the 2015 Women's World Cup. In 2022 she was inducted into the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame.

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Following her retirement from playing in 2017, Wilkinson embarked on her coaching career, most recently at National Women's Soccer League side Portland Thorns where she led her side to the 2022 NWSL title, the club's third, in her first season at the helm. Prior to joining the Thorns, Wilkinson was head coach for the Canada under-17 and under-20 youth programs and was the national team's assistant coach at the 2019 FIFA World Cup.

In 2021 before moving to the Thorns, Wilkinson was appointed assistant manager to Hege Riise who took temporary charge of England Women. The duo would also take charge of Team GB at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

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STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND - APRIL 12: Hege Riise, Head Coach of England and Rhian Wilkinson, Assistant Coach of England look on during an England Training Session in preparation for an upcoming International Friendly Match against Canada at Bet365 Stadium on April 12, 2021 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by Lynne Cameron - The FA/The FA via Getty Images) (Photo by Lynne Cameron - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)

Despite the immediate on-field success, Wilkinson resigned following a NWSL investigation into her relationship with a player and former teammate of hers. Wilkinson was cleared of all charges but admitted that she’d lost the dressing room following the investigation and chose to step down.

Wilkinson walks into a Wales job with a hefty mission of not only leading the team to a first-ever major tournament qualification but doing so while overseeing a transition of talent. Veterans Jess Fishlock, who plays for NWSL side OL Reign, and Chelsea midfielder Sophie Ingle are amongst the high-profile players likely to be embarking on their final bid at reaching a major tournament.

Wilkinson boasts Welsh roots of her own, with her mother Shan Evans born in the country and Wilkinson having spent a year in 1990 relocated to Cowbridge. The school, Bont Faen Primary, didn't offer football for girls and Wilkinson's mother lobbied to convince the school to have inclusive sports teams.

Gemma Grainger stepped down from her role as Wales Women head coach to take on the manager's job with Norway (Photo by Athena Pictures/Getty Images)

Speaking about her appointment, Wilkinson said: “I aim to build on that with our mission to qualify for next summer’s EUROs and beyond. We have a group of players that are ready and deserve to be in major tournaments. I can’t wait to meet them and work with them. My mother is Welsh, and I spent part of my childhood growing up in south Wales, so I’m excited to involve myself with the country’s culture and explore that part of my roots even further.”

Wilkinson will be in attendance for Wales' friendly match against Ireland on Tuesday night and take charge for the first time during the April international window, which will mark the start of the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 qualifying campaign.

Megan Feringa