The Football Association of Ireland has announced the appointment of Carla Ward as the new head coach of the Ireland Women’s National Team (WNT).
The former Sheffield United, Birmingham City, and Aston Villa manager will lead the Irish WNT through to the end of the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup campaign.
Ward will take over the WNT with immediate effect, ahead of the 2025 UEFA Nations League, which begins in February with a home game against Türkiye at Tallaght Stadium on Friday, February 21.
A former professional player, Ward has been coaching since 2017 and is currently working towards completing the UEFA Pro Licence. She was part of the coaching staff with the United States Women’s National Team when they won gold at the 2024 Olympic Games.
Following her appointment, Carla Ward said, “I’m hugely excited to get going with the Ireland Women’s National Team. This is an unbelievable opportunity, not just with the national team but in helping to add to the fantastic work being done to develop women and girls’ football.
The Carla Ward era has officially begun. 🇮🇪 pic.twitter.com/XviKPCW1I5
— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) January 15, 2025
“Over the next two and a half years, as we build towards the World Cup, we can make a real difference, and I’m looking forward to getting started.”
FAI Chief Football Officer Marc Canham added: “We are thrilled to announce a head coach of Carla’s pedigree. To be able to secure such a top-quality coach is a statement of where our ambition for our Women’s National Team can go.
“We are delighted to secure someone who brings the passion, commitment, and skill set that we set out to find in the recruitment process. Carla’s experience as a coach, aligned with her ability to bring the best out in those around her, marked her out as our number one candidate, and we are confident that she will be a brilliant appointment.
“This is an important time for the development of women and girls’ football in Ireland, so having Carla play a leading role in that is hugely significant, and we are excited to see what our Women’s National Team can achieve with her.”
The new head coach will be formally unveiled at an official press conference in the Aviva Stadium later today.
