A French second division side have appointed a female manager for next season by the name of Helena Costa. Congratulations to her, hopefully she is the first of many.

 

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/may/07/helena-costa-clermont-foot-manager

 

 

French second-tier outfit Clermont Foot have announced that Portuguese manager Helena Costa will take over next season. Costa, 36, will become the first female coach of a French professional club.

Announcing the appointment on Wednesday, a statement on Clermont's website confirmed that Costa – who was most recently coach of the Iran women's team – will be introduced to the media after this season's final fixtures have been completed.

"Clermont Foot 63 has chosen Helena Costa to be our new coach," read the statement.

"Helena Costa came through the ranks at Benfica before taking charge of the women's teams at Odivelas, then the national teams of Qatar and Iran, in addition to working as a scout for Celtic.

"This appointment will allow Clermont Foot 63 to begin a new era, relying on a group of 17 players currently under contract, which will be added young players from the club."

Costa joined Benfica's academy as a teenager in 1997 and progressed from the Under 9s team to coaching the club's Uncder 17s, whom she led to two World Youth titles.

Clermont are 14th in Ligue 2 with two matches to go and defender Anthony Lippini – who is currently recovering from a knee injury – has admitted he is curious to see what changes Costa will make when she begins her new post in the summer.

"I was talking with my physiotherapist about the time when the first woman entered the army – a very macho environment. At first, there was a lot of shock. But now, women in the army is has become normal. This may be the same in football," Lippini told L'Equipe.

"I cannot wait to return next season to be a part of it. I'm really curious. It will be a unique experience to be the first professional football team to be managed by a woman France. It is good. It creates a buzz."

Costa spent three years scouting for Celtic in Portugal and Spain between 2008 and 2011 before moving to her post with Qatar.

"We would like to congratulate Helena sincerely on taking up this new role," said a spokesman for the Scottish champions.

"She did an excellent job for us and we know she will give her new position the same high level of commitment and dedication which she gave to Celtic."

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, France had Nelly Viennot as the first woman to be assistant referee in an elite match. Viennot also served as assistant referee in Champions League games.

In Germany, referee Bibiana Steinhaus officiates in second division games. She is the first woman referee in the second Bundesliga and the first to have been a referee in the German Cup.

In Spain, Maria Jose Claramunt is the director of the national team, responsible more for marketing than sporting issues.

 

Edit: typo

Edited May 7, 201412 yr by PloKoon13

With football teams renowned for having short days at least she will be home in time to get the housework cleared up and her husbands tea prepared.

What's the point? WHY would you appoint a female manager?

Ridiculous.

With football teams renowned for having short days at least she will be home in time to get the housework cleared up and her husbands tea prepared.

 

Heh, you're a single man then I take it? ;)

Heh, you're a single man then I take it? ;)

No, married 35 years but my wife doesn't 'The Shed End', ......................... I hope.

absolutely ridiculous that they have appointed a female manager its clearly a some kind of marketing ploy by the chairman to get the club in the headlines, hope she flops and they get relegated! 

No, married 35 years but my wife doesn't 'The Shed End', ......................... I hope.

 

 

Maybe I am your wife, Colin!!  Grrrrrrrrrrrr    

Maybe I'm wrong but I can't see it working out, will the players take orders? On a hiding to nothing IMO.

I will say best of luck to her though and she must have earned it.

absolutely ridiculous that they have appointed a female manager its clearly a some kind of marketing ploy by the chairman to get the club in the headlines, hope she flops and they get relegated!

If she is a looker I am sure the players wont flop and will rise to the occasion.

Ridiculous. How can they expect anyone to take any notice of her if she hasn't even got a penis to wave around? And everybody knows that having a penis is a prerequisite to possessing any insight or understanding of the game. Political correctness gone mad is what it is.

Must of been an interesting topic on Talksport with Richard Keys and Andy Grey hosting.

What's the point? WHY would you appoint a female manager?

Ridiculous.

Maybe because she was the best applicant for the job? Good luck to her, currently by far the best assistant ref in the prem is a woman.

Any position in life should be judged on whether the ability is there, women have little chance to become managers right now but it seems to me that more money and attention is going on womens football which should give them better opportunities at any level of the game. The main problem is however that they may not wield much authority over a bunch of footballers, the majority don't seem to be the most forward thinking bunch. Having said that Thatcher proved that you don't need a cock between your legs to be a majorly authoritative c**t so hopefully the future will hold more female managers in every facet of the game.

Must of been an interesting topic on Talksport with Richard Keys and Andy Grey hosting.

'Women managers?...do me a favour......'

'Richard..we're on air.'

'f**k not again'

'Women managers?...do me a favour......'

'Richard..we're on air.'

'f**k not again'

I won't be surprised. I'm not sure talksport have much respect for women considering they heard them two dopes and collymore.

Any position in life should be judged on whether the ability is there, women have little chance to become managers right now but it seems to me that more money and attention is going on womens football which should give them better opportunities at any level of the game. The main problem is however that they may not wield much authority over a bunch of footballers, the majority don't seem to be the most forward thinking bunch. Having said that Thatcher proved that you don't need a cock between your legs to be a majorly authoritative c**t so hopefully the future will hold more female managers in every facet of the game.

From personal experience I can attest to the saying that "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned".

Honestly, and not trying to be sexist, but having played football quite a few years (at a sh*te level) and knowing how much training pitch and dressing room banter goes on, I really can't see a female manager commanding enough respect from a team who will probably be taking the piss behind her back.

 

Of course this isn't an issue limited only to women, look at David Moyes at United.

Honestly, and not trying to be sexist, but having played football quite a few years (at a sh*te level) and knowing how much training pitch and dressing room banter goes on, I really can't see a female manager commanding enough respect from a team who will probably be taking the piss behind her back.

 

Of course this isn't an issue limited only to women, look at David Moyes at United.

 

 

You're probably right.  Women have been working for men for centuries, and taking the piss behind their backs. Time men got a chance to do likewise.

Honestly, and not trying to be sexist, but having played football quite a few years (at a sh*te level) and knowing how much training pitch and dressing room banter goes on, I really can't see a female manager commanding enough respect from a team who will probably be taking the piss behind her back.

Of course this isn't an issue limited only to women, look at David Moyes at United.

I've seen a few Sunday league teams over the years with a woman coach, everything I heard was good. We once trained with our local semi pro teams women's side for a few weeks and obviously we were all laughing and pissing about. Once we trained though it didn't matter, they were mostly very good abd worked really hard. The funniest bit was we had to do 2 on 1s, 2 players trying to keep the ball off 1. Our captain was put with the 2 best lasses who kept it off him for ages, while we all just fell about laughing as he got angrier and angrier. Their coach was brilliant though,bwe wanted her to help us out as she cane with some really enjoyable sessions, not just the usual garbage we were used to.

Just as an aside, there's 2 young lasses who live on the same street as me who play for Blackburn, one is off to the US on a scholarship next year. They are unbelievably good, don't know how because I played with their dad for years and he was sh*t. Well that's what I keep telling him. We went for a kick about a few years ago and I was close to pretending to get injured, I was sick of them running rings round me :).

Honestly, and not trying to be sexist, but having played football quite a few years (at a sh*te level) and knowing how much training pitch and dressing room banter goes on, I really can't see a female manager commanding enough respect from a team who will probably be taking the piss behind her back.

 

Of course this isn't an issue limited only to women, look at David Moyes at United.

Yeah but thats kind of the point isn't it, footballers need to learn to not be such misogynist c**ts all the time, I dont think its going to happen any time soon. As a side note the NFL has just gotten their first openly gay professional player, would be interesting to see how that goes, I can't imagine a footballer ever wanting to come out with the sh*tty attitudes that exist within football stadiums 

What's the point? WHY would you appoint a female manager?

Ridiculous.

For a statement like that, would love to see the outcome in real time.

 

Lets be having yer.

Yeah but thats kind of the point isn't it, footballers need to learn to not be such misogynist c**ts all the time, I dont think its going to happen any time soon. As a side note the NFL has just gotten their first openly gay professional player, would be interesting to see how that goes, I can't imagine a footballer ever wanting to come out with the sh*tty attitudes that exist within football stadiums 

 

 

I really think you should come over to the Blue, Lewy!!

Just as an aside, there's 2 young lasses who live on the same street as me who play for Blackburn, one is off to the US on a scholarship next year. They are unbelievably good, don't know how because I played with their dad for years and he was sh*t. Well that's what I keep telling him. We went for a kick about a few years ago and I was close to pretending to get injured, I was sick of them running rings round me :).

 

Got nut-megged by a girl playing football once. Retired immediately.

Got nut-megged by a girl playing football once. Retired immediately.

Ha ha, bet that hurt. We played 5s against the lasses and one chipped our keeper. After the game we burned his gloves.