Canada Soccer officially announced the appointment of Casey Stoney as head coach of the Canadian women’s national team on Monday, bringing the former San Diego Wave and Manchester United boss into international management for the first time in her career.
She is appointed ahead of something of a transitional year for the Canadians, with no competitive games on the schedule but a real opportunity to shape the team the way she wants it ahead of the 2026 Concacaf W Championship, 2027 Women’s World Cup, and beyond. Her first three matches in charge of Canada will be at the invitational Pinatar Cup in Spain in February.
The coaching search following the dismissal of Bev Priestman in November was coordinated by former York United president Angus McNab, who was also a consultant during Canada Soccer’s men’s national team search that resulted in the hiring of Jesse Marsch. The hiring committee also included alumni Stephanie Labbé, Diana Matheson, Erin McLeod and Melissa Tancredi, as well as Canada Soccer president Peter Augruso, and the leader of Canada Soccer’s Women’s Football Working Group, Sara McConaghy.
“I am honoured to join Canada Soccer as the head coach of the women’s national team,” Stoney said in a press release. “Canada has a proud tradition in women’s football, and I am excited to work with such a talented group of players. 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.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Casey Stoney as head coach of the women’s national team,” said Canada Soccer CEO and General Secretary Kevin Blue. “Casey’s track record of successful leadership, her values and strength of character, and her lifelong dedication to the advancement of women’s football make her the right person to lead our national team into its next chapter.”
Casey Stoney is IN ✅
Canada Soccer announces Stoney as the new head coach of the #CanWNT 🇨🇦
She kicks off her tenure with a three-match series in February at the Pinatar Cup in Spain ✈️ pic.twitter.com/COqoG1eQ6L
— OneSoccer (@onesoccer) January 13, 2025
Stoney, 42, had a 20-year playing career as a defender at the very top of English football, and made 130 appearances for the Lionesses between 2000 and 2017. She also made five appearances for Great Britain, scoring once, on home soil at the London 2012 Olympic Games, serving as team captain.
She made the move into management shortly after her playing career came to an end, serving as an assistant for Phil Neville’s Lionesses before taking the reins at Manchester United in 2018 and getting them promoted to the Women’s Super League. She remained with the Red Devils until 2021, when she stepped down after turning the club into a consistent team near the top of the WSL table, before heading Stateside to join NWSL expansion club San Diego Wave FC ahead of their inaugural 2022 season.
In her debut season in San Diego she led the team to the playoffs, where they lost to the Portland Thorns, the eventual champions. Stoney was named Coach of the Year for her efforts, while netminder Kailen Sheridan, with whom she will reunite in Canada, took home the Goalkeeper of the Year. In 2023, the club won the NWSL Shield as regular season champions, and in 2024 won the NWSL Challenge Cup before Stoney was let go in June amidst an underwhelming regular season to that point.
Stoney holds a UEFA Pro License, completed while she was at Manchester United.