Da har vi pmutselig Leedsdame som ny trener for kvinnelandslaget også.
The Guardian om landslagsbyttet
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/jan/10/wales-manager-gemma-grainger-steps-down-to-take-charge-of-norwayWales manager Gemma Grainger steps down to take charge of Norway
Highly rated coach says decision was ‘not taken lightly’
Grainger guided Wales to verge of Women’s World Cup
Wed 10 Jan 2024 21.51 CET
Gemma Grainger has left her role as manager of Wales with immediate effect to become head coach of Norway.
The 41-year-old spent nearly three years in charge of Wales and guided them to the verge of qualification for the 2023 Women’s World Cup when they lost out to a last-minute goal in the playoff final against Switzerland.
Grainger told the Football Association of Wales official website: “Over the last three years I have given my heart and soul to our journey, and I will be forever grateful to have had the opportunity to work with this team and proud nation. It has been an honour and a privilege to work with this group of players and staff, and to represent a nation that has supported the team with incredible pride and passion.
“I had no intention to leave Cymru, but I have been offered an unexpected opportunity that I could not turn down and it has been extremely difficult for me to get to this point. I hope you know the decision to leave has not been taken lightly.
“I truly believe this team is ready to take the next steps and qualify. I’m confident the team can continue to build and grow from this point forward. Cymru will forever have a place in my heart, diolch am bopeth (thank you for everything).”
The former Leeds and Middlesbrough manager was coach of various England age groups before taking over Wales in March 2021. Her final match in charge was a 0-0 draw in the Nations League against Germany in Swansea in December.
The FAW chief executive, Noel Mooney, said: “I would like to place on record our sincere gratitude for what Gemma has achieved during her time as Cymru national team manager. We are really happy that we have progressed well under Gemma and now we enter a period of recruitment for a new manager that will give us the best opportunity to qualify for Uefa Euro 2025 and the 2027 Fifa World Cup.”
Vilde Bøe Risa (datter av en Brannspiller) har hørt gode ting om Gemma:
Landslagets Vilde Bøe Risa sier til VG at tiden fremover blir spennende.
– Første reaksjon er at det blir spennende å bli kjent med henne og lære hvilke type trener og person hun er. Av hva jeg har hørt, er hun en åpen og omgjengelig person som setter kultur høyt. Det tror jeg passer godt inn hos oss, sier Risa.
– Jeg håper at vi i 2024 bygger videre på relasjoner og samhandling i laget og at Gemma kan være en sterk bidragsyter for at vi oppnår gode resultater sammen.
Grainger har vært sjef for Wales de siste to årene. Før den tid har vært assistent for England under EM i 2017 og hovedtrener på aldersbestemt nivå. I tillegg har hun vært innom Middlesbrough og Leeds United i klubbfotballen. Grainger vil bli boende i Leeds.
(VG)