Priestman takes over as coach of Canadian women’s team

Bev Priestman, who was an assistant on England’s World Cup team last year, has been named the head coach of the Canadian women’s national team.

Priestman replaces Kenneth Heiner-Moller, who resigned this summer to join the Danish soccer federation after leading Canada to an Olympic berth earlier this year.

Priestman, 34, will take over on Nov. 1 in preparation for the Tokyo Games, which were postponed until 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

After her stint as an assistant on England’s World Cup team, Priestman served as head coach of England’s under-18 team. Before that, she worked with Canada soccer’s national teams for five years.

“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,” she said in a statement. “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 was a technical assistant on Canada’s 2015 World Cup and 2016 Olympics teams. The Canadians won the bronze medal in Brazil.

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