Ligue 2 men’s side Clermont Foot made waves this week with the hiring of Portuguese coach Helena Costa, who now has the highest-profile job of any woman in men’s football.
And while women have been coached by men for ages, the news has certainly made its way around the locker rooms of the women’s game.
PST caught up with US international Carli Lloyd and Australian international Sam Kerr, both of the NWSL’s Western New York Flash, for their takes on the hiring.
Lloyd, 31, has 50 goals in 171 appearances for the USWNT and hopes this is a signal that more leading female coaches will get a look.
“It’s great to see a female being recognized and rewarded by the men’s game,” Lloyd said. “I’m sure she is a great coach and I hope she does well and this appointment leads to other female coaches being hired for men’s teams around the world.”
Kerr, 20, echoed the sentiments.
“I think this is a very cool story and this is another step in awareness for women’s football,” Kerr said. “It will be interesting to see how her experience as a women’s manager translates to the men’s game. I’m looking toward to seeing what she can do. “