Former England captain Casey Stoney named head coach of Canadian women's soccer team

Casey Stoney, a former England captain who went on to win NWSL coach of the year honours, has been named bench boss of the Canadian women's soccer team.

The sixth-ranked Canadian women have been without a permanent coach since Bev Priestman was sent home during the Paris Olympics last summer due to the drone-spying scandal.

Stoney has signed a three-year contract with Canada Soccer that runs through the next World Cup, with an option for 2028.

The 42-year-old most recently was coach of the San Diego Wave, joining the NWSL expansion team in 2021 and was named the league's coach of the year in 2022 but was let go last June with the Wave mired in a seven-game losing streak.

"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 released by Canada Soccer. "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 noted Stoney will start with the Canada women in February at the Pinatar Cup, a three-match series in Spain.

A defender, Stoney won 130 caps for England and captained Great Britain at the London 2012 Olympics.

She represented England at three FIFA Women's World Cups, winning bronze at the 2015 tournament after coming on in the 93rd minute as England defeated host Canada 2-1 in the quarterfinal before 54,027 at B.C. Place Stadium.

During that tournament, she was honoured with an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for her services to football.

She also went to three UEFA Women's European Championships.

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