• Dear Guest, Please note that adult content is not permitted on this forum. We have had our Google ads disabled at times due to some posts that were found from some time ago. Please do not post adult content and if you see any already on the forum, please report the post so that we can deal with it. Adult content is allowed in the glory hole - you will have to request permission to access it. Thanks, scara

Helena Costa

clownfoot

Goran Bunjevcevic
French second-tier outfit Clermont Foot have announced that Portuguese manager Helena Costa will take over next season. Costa, 36, will become the first female coach of a French professional club.

Announcing the appointment on Wednesday, a statement on Clermont's website confirmed that Costa – who was most recently coach of the Iran women's team – will be introduced to the media after this season's final fixtures have been completed.

"Clermont Foot 63 has chosen Helena Costa to be our new coach," read the statement.

"Helena Costa came through the ranks at Benfica before taking charge of the women's teams at Odivelas, then the national teams of Qatar and Iran, in addition to working as a scout for Celtic.

"This appointment will allow Clermont Foot 63 to begin a new era, relying on a group of 17 players currently under contract, which will be added young players from the club."

Costa joined Benfica's academy as a teenager in 1997 and progressed from the Under 9s team to coaching the club's Uncder 17s, whom she led to two World Youth titles.

Clermont are 14th in Ligue 2 with two matches to go and defender Anthony Lippini – who is currently recovering from a knee injury – has admitted he is curious to see what changes Costa will make when she begins her new post in the summer.

"I was talking with my physiotherapist about the time when the first woman entered the army – a very macho environment. At first, there was a lot of shock. But now, women in the army is has become normal. This may be the same in football," Lippini told L'Equipe.

"I cannot wait to return next season to be a part of it. I'm really curious. It will be a unique experience to be the first professional football team to be managed by a woman France. It is good. It creates a buzz."

Costa spent three years scouting for Celtic in Portugal and Spain between 2008 and 2011 before moving to her post with Qatar.

"We would like to congratulate Helena sincerely on taking up this new role," said a spokesman for the Scottish champions.

"She did an excellent job for us and we know she will give her new position the same high level of commitment and dedication which she gave to Celtic."

The news was also welcomed by Najat Belkacem, France's Women's Minister, who said on Twitter: "Bravo Clermont Foot for understanding that giving a place to women is the future of professional football."

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, France had Nelly Viennot as the first woman to be assistant referee in an elite match. Viennot also served as assistant referee in Champions League games.

In Germany, referee Bibiana Steinhaus officiates in second division games. She is the first woman referee in the second Bundesliga and the first to have been a referee in the German Cup.

In Spain, Maria Jose Claramunt is the director of the national team, responsible more for marketing than sporting issues.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/may/07/helena-costa-clermont-foot-manager


I've often wondered when this would happen. A step towards progression in football
 
And a step back ;)

Is she the best person for the job? If so, good luck to them. Hope it's not been done for the media exposure it will gain them though.

Even if it has been done for cynical reasons, it opens the door for other women to become involved in football.
 
Am I incredibly sexist for thinking that a female coach will never work in a professional football club?
 
True, good point Dayo. Probably get to November time with Timothy, then he'll get sacked and Dan will be on the lookout for someone Portuguese to complete the circle, job done.
 
Too many problems in this. Wags may start getting funny and accusing player of having an affair or how is maternity leave worried out especially if club in near relegation/promotion etc.
 
Too many problems in this. Wags may start getting funny and accusing player of having an affair or how is maternity leave worried out especially if club in near relegation/promotion etc.

Good GHod, I just had to double check that this is 2014.

Many of us have been working with women for years without her indoors getting all uppity about it, besides most clubs have plenty of female employees already. With regards to maternity leave, have you heard of birth control? Plenty of women plan having a family (if they want one) and have a career at the same time. I don't see why a football manager should be any different.
 
Good GHod, I just had to double check that this is 2014.

Many of us have been working with women for years without her indoors getting all uppity about it, besides most clubs have plenty of female employees already. With regards to maternity leave, have you heard of birth control? Plenty of women plan having a family (if they want one) and have a career at the same time. I don't see why a football manager should be any different.

It's 2014 you know
;)
 
I'd be more concerned with all the bears that will get in the way at training every time she has her period.
 
I'm chuckling at the idea of a Qatar or Iran women's national team. It would be terrible if they played against each other, both teams in black, only their eyes and sparkly shoes on show...

Can't deny that she has a solid background in the sport. It'll be an interesting 'experiment' to see whether other female managers/coaches are encouraged into the men's game.
 
You wouldn't give a second thought to a man managing a woman's netball or hockey team, so why all the fuss?
 
You're serious?
So as we approach march and we are in with a shout of qualifying for champs league and then she goes of on maternity leave, the club will be in limbo. She may not truthful with Daniel Levy from the start and let him know that she is expecting. Also, I doubt she will even mention it after the 3 month scan.

Daniel will be peeved as he got to fork out maternity leave and leave the position open, hence he will have to give a temp job to David pleat in her absence until she returns to work
 
:eek:

obviously all women just spend their entire lives being pregnant and disappearing off on maternity leave
 
Back