Former member of Soccer Canada | Rhian Wilkinson to lead Wales women’s team

Former Canadian international Rhian Wilkinson has been named coach of the Wales women’s team.

Wilkinson, a member of the Soccer Canada Hall of Fame, was capped 181 times for Canada from 2003 to 2017. The defender went on to lead Canada’s Under-18 and Under-20 teams, before serving as an assistant to coach Kenneth Heiner-Moller with the Canadian women’s team. She held the same role with the England team.

She also managed the NWSL-winning Portland Thorns in 2022. However, she resigned five weeks later.

Wilkinson succeeds Gemma Grainger, who left in January to manage the Norwegian team. Wilkinson will take charge of his first matches during next April’s international window.

Wales come in at 32^e world ranking for women.