Former England manager Hope Powell appointed by Birmingham City
She's joined the club as the new women's technical director.
Birmingham City Football Club has appointed former England manager Hope Powell CBE as Women’s Technical Director.
The club said Powell will be responsible for the long-term vision of the Women’s team, creating a high-performance culture, and building the Women’s leadership team to drive success on and off the pitch.
Powell has enjoyed a long and successful career in the game, starting as a player and winning 66 caps for England before transitioning into a variety of senior leadership positions.
Her accolades include leading England Women to four UEFA Women’s European Championships, including the final in 2009, and two FIFA Women’s World Cups.
She also took charge of Team GB at the 2012 Olympics in London and between 2017 and 2022, was head coach of Barclays Women’s Super League side Brighton & Hove Albion.
The 56-year-old now joins Blues with the Club preparing for their second season in the Barclays Women’s Championship and, after finishing runners-up in 2022/23, the team is targeting promotion.
Powell said: “I am excited to have the opportunity to join Birmingham City at the start of the journey. Having met Tom, Matt, and Garry it was clear that the Women’s team and its Academy is an important pillar of the Club’s transformation.
"Birmingham was a powerhouse when the WSL was formed. I am looking forward to putting in place the building blocks so that it can compete once again at the highest levels, both in England and then across Europe."
Chairman Birmingham City Limited, Tom Wagner, said: “We are delighted that Hope has chosen to join Birmingham City and drive the Women’s team’s future success. It is a critical part of our overall strategy.
"Hope joining sends a powerful message, first to the women and girls of Birmingham and second to fans of the women’s game across the country, that Birmingham Women means business.
"Women’s football is doing an excellent job of bringing new fans into the sport. Not only are the athletes authentic and highly skilled they are also excellent role models. Birmingham City Women, under Hope’s leadership, is going to attract larger crowds, drive increased participation, engage with the community and lead to more commercial partners looking to work with us.”
Chief Executive Officer, Garry Cook, said: “Hope is a legend in the Women’s game. We are thrilled to have her involved, to provide valuable insight and expertise to oversee our Women’s teams."