Carla Ward Named Ireland Women's Coach

Carla Ward has been appointed as the new head coach of the Republic of Ireland women's national team, succeeding Eileen Gleeson after the team's failure to qualify for Euro 2025. Her contract will extend until the end of the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup, and she will begin her tenure with the upcoming UEFA Nations League match against Turkey in February. Ward, who has coaching experience since 2017 and was part of the U.S. team staff during their gold medal win at the 2024 Olympics, expressed her excitement about the opportunity to develop women's football in Ireland. She will be supported by Alan Mahon as Assistant Coach and Emma Byrne as Goalkeeping Coach, both of whom bring valuable experience to the team. FAI Chief Football Officer Marc Canham emphasized that securing a coach of Ward's caliber reflects the organization's ambition for the women's national team. The appointment signals a new chapter as Ireland aims for back-to-back World Cup qualifications.