Bev Priestman revealed as new head coach of Canada’s women’s national team

TORONTO, Canada—Canada Soccer announced today that Bev Priestman has been appointed Head Coach of the Women’s National Team.

Priestman will take charge of Canada beginning Nov. 1 as the squad continues their preparations for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 2021.

“We are extremely pleased to welcome Bev Priestman back to Canada Soccer as our Women’s National Team Head Coach,” said Steven Reed, Canada Soccer President in a press release. “Bev’s contributions leading the Women’s National EXCEL Program and supporting the Women’s National Team as an Assistant Coach during her five-years with Canada Soccer set a solid foundation for success across all levels of the Women’s National Team Program and we are excited to have her bring her recent experience, vision and leadership to her new role.”

“It is an honour and privilege to return to Canada to lead such a talented group of players and a team with a fantastic history,” added Bev Priestman, Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team Head Coach. “With a great blend of experience and youth, I’m excited as to what we can achieve together over the next quadrennial. I would like to thank Canada Soccer for this fantastic opportunity. Our immediate focus is the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 next year and then subsequently building towards the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia/New Zealand 2023™ where ultimately Canada should be on that podium. I look forward to connecting with the great group of staff and players ready to head into the Olympic year of 2021 focused and ready to give it our all.”

Priestman most recently served as England’s Women’s U-18 National Team Head Coach and was scheduled to lead England at the postponed FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup India 2021. She previously served as England’s Women’s National Team Assistant Coach, helping England finish fourth at the FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019™, also helping Great Britain qualify for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.

Before joining England in June 2018, Priestman spent the previous five years at Canada Soccer serving as National EXCEL Director, U-15 to U-23. In her role, she served as Head Coach at two editions of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, one edition of the Concacaf Women’s Under-20 Championship, three editions of the Concacaf Women’s Under-17 Championship, and one edition of the Concacaf Under-15 Championship. Priestman also served as an Assistant Coach with Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team, notably serving as a Technical Assistant at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015™ (sixth place), the 2016 Concacaf Women’s Olympic Qualifying Championship (second place), and the Rio 2016 Women’s Olympic Football Tournament where Canada captured a second consecutive bronze medal.

Canada are in fact one of just five nations in the world that have qualified for each of the past four Women’s Olympic Football Tournaments. Canada is also the only nation in the world to reach the podium at both London 2012 and Rio 2016 in women’s football. The team has already booked their ticket to the Olympic Games in Tokyo, which are tentatively set to take place in 2021 after being postponed in 2020.

Priestman takes over the role of Canada Soccer’s women’s national team coach from Kenneth Heiner-Møller, who left the role at the end of the summer to return to his native Denmark. Prior to Heiner-Møller, now-Canadian men’s national team head coach John Herdman managed the women’s side in one of their most successful stints ever. Canada Soccer is hoping Priestman will help them once again reach those heights.

Bev Priestman was one of the names on Benedict Rhodes’ shortlist at the end of August.