New Zealand women’s U20 coach Gemma Lewis has been named the first coach of the Wellington Phoenix women’s A-League team. 31-year-old Lewis is one of New Zealand’s best coaches. She is the manager of the Future Ferns Domestic Program and was the assistant coach of Football Ferns at the 2019 Women’s World Cup and Young Football Ferns at the 2018 U17 Women’s World Cup. The former Wales player is supported by FFDP and the New Zealand U20 Assistant coach Natalie Lawrence make Phoenix the second club behind Canberra United, which has two women in the positions of head coach and assistant coach. Both coaches were signed for one season. Alex Grimm / Getty Images Gemma Lewis has been named head coach of the Wellington Phoenix women’s A-League team. “We are delighted that Gemma and Natalie will take over the leadership of the country’s first professional women’s soccer team, our Phoenix women’s team, this year,” said Phoenix Managing Director David Dome. READ MORE: * Wellington Phoenix makes announcements for the women’s team; Squad rules confirmed * Age group national player Marisa van der Meer joins Melbourne City women Players, showing what they can do to the rest of Australia. ”Lewis, who moved to New Zealand from her native Wales seven years ago, also has experience coaching the National Women’s League – won the title with Auckland in 2017 – and was promoted to in 2018 by selected by Fifa as part of an elite coach mentoring program. where she was looked after by Japan’s trainer Asako Takemoto. The Phoenix gained access to the expanded 10-Teams A-League women’s competition – formerly known as the W-League – for the 2021-22 season last month. The team will be based in New South Wales, possibly Wollongong, where the men’s team was based last season, and will play their first game against the Western Sydney Wanderers on December 3rd. Lewis said she was honored to be named the first coach on the Phoenix women’s team. “It’s pretty amazing to do something to make a bit of history,” said Lewis. “It’s a really good next step for us, but being something that is our first time for New Zealand and also being on this journey with the players makes it even more special and important. “I couldn’t have written the story better if I had tried. I’m pretty excited and it definitely means a lot. “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.” Although Lewis wasn’t officially unveiled until Monday, she said recruiting was already underway and expected the Phoenix to be able to announce their first signings this week. “Even when we come to an announcement with the coaches for the first time, things are still going on in the background. and we hope to get close to some player announcements this week. ”Lewis said the Phoenix and New Zealand football would apply for exemptions for Auckland coaches and players traveling to Wellington to start pre-season training before going back Depart Australia.
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