The other day on Facebook my friend and Dear Dear Sports Fan Fan, Natty, asked me about the backgrounds of coaches in this year’s Women’s World Cup. I had no idea! So, I decided to do some research. Over the next few days, as the teams all play their second games in the Group Stage, we’ll be profiling their coaches.
Canada – John Herdman
A 39 year-old English native, John Herdman had no playing career to speak of. He formerly coached the New Zealand women’s national team from 2006 to 2011 before being brought on as head coach of the Canadian team. Cathal Kelly in The Globe and Mail described Herdman as his team’s “emotional bellwether, hype man and head of psy-ops. He’s a warm, chatty fellow. He’s also a little odd, in an endearing way.” He is the only coach in Group A with World Cup experience as a head coach having led the New Zealand team in the 2007 and 2011 World Cups.
China – Hao Wei
Hao Wei was a fringe player on the professional and international level for his native China. Following his playing career, he took his first coaching job as an assistant with the Chinese club team he had been playing for. From there, he moved to an assistant’s role on the Chinese national women’s team and was promoted to head coach in 2012. The 38 year-old is the team’s fifth head coach since 2007.
Netherlands – Roger Reijners
At 51, Roger Reijners has had a longer coaching career than the rest of his competition in Group A. After a solid professional career in the Dutch Eredivisie, Reijners went directly into coaching and ended up coaching both his former teams before becoming head coach of the women’s national team. Is a fast talker.
New Zealand – Tony Readings
Tony Readings came to New Zealand from his native England as a solid professional player who wasn’t quite good enough to find a permanent spot in higher level English leagues. As a coach for the New Zealand women’s program, he coached the Under-20 side and was assistant to now head coach of Canada, John Herdman, at the senior level before becoming head coach himself. Now 39, he’s coaching in his first World Cup.