The conversation around the representation of female coaches in women’s soccer has been a hot topic of discussion for several years.
He was featured again in 2023 during the World Cup in Australia, it turned out that only 12 of the 32 national teams competing in the tournament were led by women. This figure highlighted the glaring imbalance in training, even in a sport where female participation and visibility has grown significantly.
The disparities that continue to persist raise questions about the opportunities and support systems available to aspiring female coaches, therefore 90 minutes have analyzed five of the world’s top leagues in the women’s game, and female representation in the dugout.
In the domestic leagues, the numbers reveal a mixed picture. The Women’s Super League (WSL) in England, for example, actually emerges as an encouraging exception.
As things stand, 41.7% of its management positions are held by women (5 out of 12), although one of them is only interim (Renee Slegers). This is particularly notable given the recent turnover, with prominent figures such as Emma Hayes and Carla Ward leaving their roles in Chelsea and Aston Villa respectively at the end of last season.
Both have been outspoken advocates of the need to increase support for women in management and coaching pathways. Their departures could easily have led to a decline in female representation, but it is positive to see that the league has maintained a relatively high proportion of female coaches.
Elsewhere in Europe, the picture is much less promising. Only in the F League of Spain 12.5% of teams (2 out of 16) are led by women. The situation in France and Germany is even more striking, rightly so 8.3% (1 in 12) of head coaches are women.
The NWSL in the United States has a slightly higher ratio than 21.4% (3 of 14), but one of the 11 men’s managers is an interim (Landon Donovan), so that number could rise soon based on the San Diego Wave’s permanent appointment.
|
league |
Total teams |
Female coaches |
Percentage of female coaches |
|---|---|---|---|
|
WSL |
12 |
5 |
41.7% |
|
NWSL |
14 |
3 |
21.4% |
|
League F |
16 |
2 |
12.5% |
|
Women’s Bundesliga |
12 |
1 |
8.3% |
|
Division 1 Female |
12 |
1 |
8.3% |
That the numbers in England seem to be the exception, rather than the norm, is worrying in itself, as it is still below 50%, and there is still significant work to be done to balance the balance. The WSL’s advantage over its peers should not overshadow the wider reality: globally, the proportion of women in top-level coaching roles is conspicuously low.
Achieving equity in coaching is not just about numbers, it involves creating an environment where women are encouraged, supported and equipped to succeed at all levels of the game. This is something Hayes, now head coach of the USWNT, has long been one of the most vocal advocates for.
“I think what happens is when a woman coaches at the highest level and they let her go, I don’t think we have as many opportunities as male coaches, for whatever reason,” she said. PA News Agency in September
“So if there’s a dropout, it’s probably because those opportunities aren’t happening, and it’s also a really hard job to do. You might not get paid a lot, you might have childcare to manage, there there are many more things, being a woman, that is never taken into account.”
Ward, who left his role at Aston Villa earlier this year to prioritize his daughter and family life, said in a interview with The Guardian: “Being in the game myself, I know there are a lot of women who are good enough, but it’s this opportunity. I think people should maybe open the door.
“I’m very important about the right person for the right job, but visibility is key. And how do we achieve this visibility? I’m not sure. But certainly at the moment I think there’s a lot of missed opportunities with how clubs are recruiting.”
