All about the first woman coach in the top two tiers of European football
Who is Helena Costa?
She is a 39 year old former manager of the Iran women’s national team, Qatar women’s national team, and a long-time veteran with the Benfica’s women team and the Benfica training school (1997-2010). She was also a scout for Celtic between 2008-2011. She won an award in Portugal for distinction in women’s football. According to this she also apprenticed with Jose Mourinho at Chelsea and László Bölöni at Rennes. She has previously coached a men's team too in Portugal, Cheleirense, with whom she won a regional championship.
She's reportedly working n a PhD in sports science and has a UEFA A license.
Which team is she going to coach?
Originally formed in 1911 as Stade Clermontois, Clermont Foot has undergone a series of name changes and a merger in 1990. Their claim to fame was a miraculous cup run in 1997 which saw them beat teams like Lorient and PSG. They won promotion to Ligue 2 and have been there since 2007.
What do Clermont’s players think about the appointment?
Forward Remy Dugimont was quoted in L’Equipe:
“It came out of nowhere and now we have to get to know. It is good, it will create a buzz and will be a unique experience. I'm not macho. She has worked in the profession and all the boys know how it works.”
What will happen?
Who knows? Sexism is rampant in football. If she’s successful commentators might write it was in spite of her presence with the team, and if Clermont slips even further next season she will no doubt be blamed for it and people with zero knowledge on the subject will question whether a woman can “motivate” men in football.
On the other side, this appointment should hopefully underline how coaching, whilst a matter of motivation and people skills, also involves trust in the manager’s approach, trust that the tactics are right for the team, trust that the selection is the most appropriate on the day, trust in the process. That process can be learned and taught by anyone.
For those who think being a football manager involves looking a certain way, or screaming at players until they win matches, their minds will be made up.
Will this pave the way for women managing top flight football clubs?
Unfortunately some will see Costa not as one coach of many, but a living representative for all women coaches everywhere. She’ll face a huge level of pressure to perform as if her appointment is some sort of “experiment.” This is really stupid but there it is.
Football would do well to modernize and bring more women with executive experience into football clubs. Either it’s professional football, or it isn’t.