The FA have received 142 applications for the England women’s manager vacancy, according to its head of women’s football Baroness Campbell.
The successful candidate will replace Phil Neville next summer and will lead England at the now rescheduled for 2022, Euro 2021. However, their main focus will be World Cup success in Australia and New Zealand, 2023.
Final Push for Glory
Speaking to BBC Sport, Baroness Campbell labelled the response as unbelievable, adding that there had been “very good interest from significantly experienced coaches.”
Baroness Campbell also indicated her high expectations for the incoming manager.
“I’m not judging against what we’ve had in the past, it’s saying ‘who has got the ability to take us right to the top of Everest?” she said.
“We’re at the final camp – how do we get to the top of the mountain? That’s what my job is. To find that person for the players. They deserve the best and I want to get them the best if I can.”
England Women’s Manager: The Contenders
Among the favourites to step into Phil Neville’s shoes is former US Women’s National Team coach Jill Ellis. English-born, Ellis stepped down from the USWNT role in 2019 shortly after becoming just the second coach to win consecutive World Cups. Ellis finished her five-year tenure with a staggering 106 wins in 132 matches as well as a CONCACAF Women’s Championships title (2014) and an Algarve Cup (2015).
Also believed to be in contention are Chelsea manager Emma Hayes, ex-England international and Manchester United head coach Casey Stoney, and former Manchester City manager Nick Cushing, now at New York City.
End of the Road for Neville
Phil Neville was appointed as head of the national team in January 2018 as a permanent replacement for Mark Sampson.
The Class of ’92 member enjoyed an undefeated 2019 World Cup qualifying campaign and won the SheBelieves Cup in the run up to the tournament.
However, after reaching the semi-finals of the World Cup, England were knocked out by Ellis’ USA side. Neville’s team finished the tournament in fourth place, losing to Sweden in the third place play-off.
Following a string of poor results and the Covid-19 enforced postponement of the Women’s Euros, Neville announced that he would step down as manager in July 2021 when his contract expires. It is unclear whether he will lead Great Britain at the Tokyo Olympics.
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