Canada's Rhian Wilkinson named head coach of Wales women's soccer team

Former Canadian international Rhian Wilkinson has been named coach of the Wales women's team.

Wilkinson, a Canada Soccer Hall of Famer, won 181 caps for Canada in a distinguished playing career that stretched from 2003 to 2017. The defender went on to coach the Canadian under-18 and under-20 teams, served as an assistant coach to Kenneth Heiner-Moller with the senior women's team and was an assistant coach with England's Lionesses.

Wilkinson coached the Portland to the 2022 NWSL title, stepping down five weeks later.

She said the Thorns players had asked for her resignation and she complied, despite being investigated and cleared of wrongdoing by the NWSL and its players union after she self-reported that she and a player had developed feelings for one another but had never acted upon them.