Casey Stoney officially appointed head coach of Canada WNT – Equalizer Soccer

Orlando Ramirez-Imagn Images

Casey Stoney is officially the new head coach of the Canada women’s national team, as The Equalizer reported on Friday.

Stoney takes over as head coach after being fired from her post as San Diego Wave head coach in June. Canada had been without a head coach since the removal of Bev Priestman on the eve of the 2024 Olympics due to a drone spying scandal. An investigation led to the ousting of Priestman in November and evidence of long-term, widespread cheating.

“Canada has a proud tradition in women’s football, and I am excited to work with such a talented group of players,” Stoney said in a statement. “Together with the federation’s new leadership, we will strive to build on past successes and continue to grow the sport in Canada on and off the field. I look forward to the journey ahead and to engaging with the incredible passion of Canadian soccer fans.”

Canada Soccer has publicly endured financial struggles in recent years. Per the federation’s press release, “Stoney’s appointment is supported by philanthropic contributions to Canada Soccer, and she is the first beneficiary of a new fund established specifically to support women in elite coaching.”

The federation utilized a similar setup to secure men’s national team head coach Jesse Marsch. The three Canadian MLS teams helped fund Marsch’s salary. Canada Soccer did not immediately provide details on the nature of the fund supporting Stoney’s hire.

According to the federation, several women’s national team alumnae were involved in advisory role of the hiring of Stoney, including Stephanie Labbé, Diana Matheson, Erin McLeod, and Melissa Tancredi.

Agnus McNab, who consulted Canada on the hiring of Marsch, coordinated the search that led to the hiring of Stoney. McNab was recently announced as a strategic consultant for the Portland Thorns.

Stoney’s first games in charge of Canada will be a three-match series in Spain in February. Opponents for that tournament have not yet been announced.

She coached the Wave to the NWSL playoffs in 2022, marking the first time in NWSL history that an expansion team qualified for the postseason. Stoney was named NWSL Coach of the Year in 2022.

The Wave won the NWSL Shield the following year and Stoney signed a long-term contract extension, but she was fired a few months later as San Diego struggled through the 2024 season.

Prior to coaching San Diego, Stoney – a former England international defender with 130 caps – coached Manchester United, leading the team to promotion in its first season and finishing fourth in her two seasons in charge in the top flight.