Former Football Ferns assistant coach Gemma Lewis will lead the new Phoenix team in the women’s A-League. Photo: PHOTOSPORT Lewis and Natalie Lawrence will control the squad on their debut in the Australian league in December. Lewis and Lawrence will become Canberra United’s only all-female coaching team in women’s competition to endorse that number. Wellington Phoenix General Manager David Dome says this selection will come as no surprise to many as both coaches are considered elite in New Zealand and among the most qualified to lead the country’s first professional women’s football team. “We’re delighted that Gemma and Natalie are taking over the leadership of the country’s first professional women’s soccer team in our Phoenix women’s squad this year,” said Dome. “It will undoubtedly be a great learning season for us and the squad given the players we are looking for, but it is also an opportunity for coaches and players to show what they can do to the rest of Australasia.” very young, development-minded team with the majority of players new to the pro ranks – so it’s a great opportunity for women’s football in New Zealand as we prepare for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and we hope that Kiwis behind Gemma, Natalie and this team as they make history for New Zealand on the big stage. “Lewis comes with an outstanding pedigree as a player, coach and mentor to the Phoenix city and international games for her home country Wales before joining the NZF -Elite switched to coaching, serving as assistant coach to the bronze medalists of the New Zealand U-17 national team at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Uruguay in 2 018 and as assistant coach to Football Ferns at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France Photo: PHOTOSPORT Lewis also has experience coaching the National Women’s League – won 2017 with Auckland Football Title – and was selected by FIFA in 2018 as part of an elite coach mentorship program in which she was mentored by the head coach of the Japanese women’s team, Asako Takemoto. For the past two years, Lewis has overseen the development of some of the most promising young players in the country as the manager of the Future Ferns Domestic Program (FFDP) at NZF, alongside her role as head coach of the women’s U-20 national team. Lewis says this is a big moment for women’s football in Aotearoa New Zealand. “This team is such an important part of the women’s journey in New Zealand, especially ahead of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup on home soil,” said Lewis. “I’m particularly looking forward to giving young players a first taste of professional football.” After a successful position as FFDP and U20 assistant coach and coach instructor / mentor at New Zealand Football, Lawrence is moving to the position of Wellington Phoenix Assistant Coach, where she led the implementation of the Talent Development Program and the Girls Talent Acceleration Program. Lawrence was most recently Head Coach of the National Women’s League Capital Football squad and Team Wellington Youth Head Coach. Andrew Pragnell, CEO of New Zealand Football, says Lewis and Lawrence are the perfect tandem to lead this new team in its founding year. “Gemma and Natalie have done an excellent job nationally and internationally and will make a great team to lead the first professional women’s team in Aotearoa.” Lewis and Lawrence are now working on building the roster for the Phoenix A- The League Women team occurs next season, with the first player announcements expected to be published in the coming weeks. The squad is expected to travel to New South Wales in the near future to prepare for the start of the 2021-22 women’s A League season in Australia. Wellington Phoenix will meet the Western Sydney Wanderers on Friday, December 3, 2021, opening night.
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