Canada Soccer Wednesday announced that Bev Priestman has been appointed head coach its women’s national team through the next quadrennial.
Priestman will take charge Nov. 2 as Canada continues its preparations for the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games.
“We are extremely pleased to welcome Bev Priestman back to Canada Soccer as our women’s national team head coach,” Canada Soccer president Steven Reed said in a statement. “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.”
Priestman succeeds Kenneth Heiner-Møller, who left the role at the end of the summer.
“It is an honor and privilege to return to Canada to lead such a talented group of players and a team with a fantastic history,” Priestman said in a statement. “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 Under-18 national team head coach and was scheduled to lead England at the postponed FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup India 2021. She also served as England’s women’s national team assistant coach. Last year, she helped England finish fourth at the 2019 Women’s World Cup and played a role in Great Britain qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics. She has completed her UEFA A Diploma (Coaching Award) and is currently a UEFA PRO Licence Candidate.
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 U-20 Championship, three editions of the Concacaf Women’s U-17 Championship, and one edition of the Concacaf U-15 Championship.
She also served as an assistant coach with Canada women’s national team, serving as a technical assistant at the 2015 Women’s World Cup, the 2016 Concacaf Women’s Olympic Qualifying Championship, and the Rio 2016 Women’s Olympic Football Tournament where Canada captured a second consecutive bronze medal.