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Who Is Carla Ward? FAI Confirm New Ireland WNT Head Coach

Who Is Carla Ward? FAI Confirm New Ireland WNT Head Coach
Eoin Harrington
By Eoin Harrington Updated
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The FAI have confirmed the appointment of Carla Ward as the new Ireland WNT head coach.

Ward replaces Eileen Gleeson, whose tenure came to an end after December's Euro 2025 playoff defeat to Wales in Dublin.

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The announcement was made on Wednesday evening, with the FAI sharing a video to their social media channels of the English coach holding aloft an Ireland jersey in the Aviva Stadium.

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Ward's contract carries her through to the end of Ireland's involvement in the 2027 World Cup campaign.

In an FAI press release, Ward shared her excitement to take charge of the Ireland WNT with immediate effect.

"I’m hugely excited to get going with the Ireland Women’s National Team," Ward said, "This is an unbelievable opportunity, not just with the National Team but in helping to add to the fantastic work being done to develop women and girls’ football.

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"Over the next two and a half years, as we build towards the World Cup, we can make a real difference and I’m looking forward to getting started."

Alan Mahon (assistant coach) and Emma Byrne (goalkeeping coach) will form part of Ward's back-up team.

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Carla Ward appointed Ireland WNT head coach

Carla Ward was most recently manager of WSL side Aston Villa, guiding them to the semi-finals of the FA Cup in 2023. She has also coached on previous managerial stints at Sheffield United and Birmingham City, earning a WSL Manager of the Year nomination after guiding Birmingham to safety in her sole season in charge.

Her playing career saw her line out for clubs in both England and Spain, with the bulk of her career spent with Sheffield FC.

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The appointment of Ward ends a short search for Eileen Gleeson's replacement. Gleeson departed her role at the end of her contract last month, after Ireland came up short in their bid to reach Euro 2025 with a playoff defeat to Wales.

She also worked as an assistant with Emma Hayes's US team that won gold at the 2024 Olympics.

The FAI have moved swiftly to put a new coach in place - a coach with impressive WSL pedigree at that.

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FAI Director of Football Marc Canham said of the appointment:

We are thrilled to announce a Head Coach of Carla’s pedigree. To be able to secure such a top quality coach is a statement of where our ambition for our Women’s National Team where can go.

We are delighted to secure someone who brings the passion, commitment and skillset that we set out to find in the recruitment process. Carla’s experience as a coach, aligned with her ability to bring the best out in those around her, marked her out as our number one candidate and we are confident that she will be a brilliant appointment.

This is an important time for the development of women & girls’ football in Ireland, so having Carla play a leading role in that is hugely significant and we are excited to see what our Women’s National Team can achieve with her.

Carla Ward's first game in charge of the Ireland women's team is just over a month away, when the Girls in Green face Turkey in Tallaght Stadium on February 21st.

SEE ALSO: Ireland Underage Prospect Secures Major Move To Ligue 1 Club

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