French side Clerment Foot have appointed current Iran Women's team coach, Helena Costa to be their new head coach. This makes the Portugese, 36-year-old to be not only the highest-profile female manager of a men’s European team, but also the first female to have been appointed by a French club.
Previous experience entails being a scout at Scottish Champions Celtic, coaching Benfica’s male youth team and Qatar’s women’s team.
As reported by SkySports News, the Ligue 2 side released a statement saying “Clerment Foot 63 has chosen Helena Costa to be our new coach....This appointment will allow Clerment Foot 63 to begin a new era.
Celtic also congratulated Helena Costa in her new position, and praised her for the work she had done for them when she was working for the Scottish Club.
Costa will be taking the reins at the end of the season from former Montpellier midfielder Regis Brouard, after he decided not to extend his current contract with the club.
History
Previously, there have only been two other cases where women have been in such high profile roles in Men’s football.
Nelly Viennot was the first women to be an assistant referee in an elite match in France in 1999, and also served as an assistant referee in Champions League games.
Another female is Caronlina Morace who coached Viterbese in the Italian third tier, but only for two games. This is the only other female to have manage a professional men’s team in Europe.
Source: DSG
