Moscato's historic coaching run in Mexico highlights need for Canadian women's domestic soccer league

Carmelina Moscato was living and coaching in Denmark when her career took a sudden turn that led to her making history in Mexico.

The former defender, who played professionally for clubs in five different countries, earned 94 caps for Canada from 2002 to 2015, becoming one of the team's most trusted players while competing at three FIFA World Cups, and winning a bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics.

Moscato was eager to remain involved in the sport after she hung up her cleats and served as coach and assistant with Canada's under-15 and under-20 teams. In 2019, she was hired by Canadian Soccer Business (CSB), owners and operators of the Canadian Premier League, where she was named its manager of women's professional football development.

A move to Mexico the following summer saw her become technical director and head coach of Tigres UANL, one of the biggest teams in Liga MX Femenil, Mexico's top division.

It turned out to be a historical appointment, as Moscato guided Tigres to the 2022-23 Apertura league title last November, becoming the first foreign-born coach to win the Mexican league, and the first female head coach at Tigres to win a championship.

"I wasn't even looking for this opportunity with Tigres," Moscato told CBC Sports. "My plan was to stay in Denmark for two years and then look elsewhere, but after signing with [my current agent] they told me they had a project for me to consider in Mexico.

"Because of all the work we had done at the CSB, I knew a lot about the Mexican league: when it started — why it started, etc. So, my interest was piqued and when I heard it was with Tigres, I was all ears. ... Tigres matched my ambition, and they had what I was looking for: a club committed to investing in women's