French 2nd tier team hires female manager

[taidgh]

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/may/07/helena-costa-clermont-foot-manager

I just cannot for the life of me see this working. I find it very hard to believe that a group of lads having grown up playing for men all their lives will give any time to a woman, no matter how good she is tactically. Women, unfortunately, will still be reduced to sex objects, be disrespected, and be treated as inferior in this particular area of society. Can you imagine what the fans will have to say should the results go badly? What kind of chants will we hear from opposing teams? I hope for the best, but fear for the worst here.

 

[Lufti]

Don't know why the can't just leave it as seperate. I get that there are male managers and stuff in women's football but it's not quite the same for reasons as stated above ^

 

[absolute bobbins]

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/may/07/helena-costa-clermont-foot-manager

I just cannot for the life of me see this working. I find it very hard to believe that a group of lads having grown up playing for men all their lives will give any time to a woman, no matter how good she is tactically. Women, unfortunately, will still be reduced to sex objects, be disrespected, and be treated as inferior in this particular area of society. Can you imagine what the fans will have to say should the results go badly? What kind of chants will we hear from opposing teams? I hope for the best, but fear for the worst here.

Quite right and how on earth is she going to make her husbands dinner if the team are playing in Calais

Seriously though, I think it's a good idea. If you're good enough, you're good enough...Most of us would much rather have Hope Powell at Spurs instead of Tim

 

[Geyzer Soze]

Particualrly in France which is still relatively chauvanistic as compared to the UK this will be interesting

I would actually give it more chance of working in a higher league where there is (probably) a higher level of professionalism and respect

 

[RButch]

Fantastic to hear that someone has given her the opportunity, however I feel she will always be under pressure and victimised as all the above have said. There will be some players/coaches that naturally find the appointment emasculating, of whom will not take her seriously due to the perceived lack of command.

I hope that this revolutionises football for women, but I can't help but be worried for her.

 

[Spurger King]

Good luck to her.

 

[Amo]

I feel all warm and fuzzy inside. This is wonderful news.

I know the idealist in me may cloud my judgment but I really hope this is the start of a revolution

 

[Gassin's finest]

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/may/07/helena-costa-clermont-foot-manager

I just cannot for the life of me see this working. I find it very hard to believe that a group of lads having grown up playing for men all their lives will give any time to a woman, no matter how good she is tactically. Women, unfortunately, will still be reduced to sex objects, be disrespected, and be treated as inferior in this particular area of society. Can you imagine what the fans will have to say should the results go badly? What kind of chants will we hear from opposing teams? I hope for the best, but fear for the worst here.

Good opportunity to change all that then eh?

From the sounds of it Clermont are looking to build a team from their promising core of young players, and Costa would appear to have built a good reputation for youth development, so why shouldn't this succeed? I think you'll find a group of young lads will respond well to a "mother figure".

I'm sure to get this gig she'll have bigger balls than most male coaches (figuratively speaking)

 

[SlickMongoose]

Good for them. No reason why it can't work as long as the players don't act like prats.

 

[stonecolddeanaustin]

Best of luck to her and all that but this sounds like a publicity stunt to me. She's been a scout at Celtic and coach of the Iranian women's team, so as far as I can tell has never worked with a top quality coach and it seems has never played at a decent level. Correct me if I'm wrong but a male coach with the same credentials wouldn't get a look in at that level.

I've no issue with there being women coaches in the men's game but I'm not sure she's the one to start it off (from what limited knowledge I have of her anyway).

 

[SlickMongoose]

Best of luck to her and all that but this sounds like a publicity stunt to me. She's been a scout at Celtic and coach of the Iranian women's team, so as far as I can tell has never worked with a top quality coach and it seems has never played at a decent level. Correct me if I'm wrong but a male coach with the same credentials wouldn't get a look in at that level.

I've no issue with there being women coaches in the men's game but I'm not sure she's the one to start it off (from what limited knowledge I have of her anyway).

I can't think of any clubs who would appoint a man with less experience. None at all.....

(As for it being a publicity stunt, I think that whoever the first female manager was would get accused of that).

 

[dk-yid]

Good for them. No reason why it can't work as long as the players don't act like prats.

Well, there you have it ....

 

[Syn_13]

It's got to start somewhere, so hopefully this is a good way to kick it off. Having a footballing brain is not male specific, and you don't have to be a good footballer to be a good manager. Some of the best managers around were shite players. There are even managers around who never made it past non-league football or didn't play at all.

It's going to be tough as she's going to come under a lot of pressure, but I'm sure she's not willing to take that position without knowing that beforehand.

 

[stonecolddeanaustin]

I can't think of any clubs who would appoint a man with less experience. None at all.....

(As for it being a publicity stunt, I think that whoever the first female manager was would get accused of that).

Who are thinking of there, Tim? I think it's slightly different when you've been a player at the highest level as it's easier for you to command some respect amongst your players.

Can't disagree with the last bit though. I just figured that the first woman to have a crack at it would've at least been the best coach in the women's game, rather than someone that's been managing Iran.

 

[shelfboy68]

Let's see if any of them laugh when she asks if anyone can play in the hole or play with two upfront.

 

[Dougal]

We should give it a go, we've tried everything else.

 

[Macspur261]

It's got to start somewhere, so hopefully this is a good way to kick it off. Having a footballing brain is not male specific, and you don't have to be a good footballer to be a good manager. Some of the best managers around were shite players. There are even managers around who never made it past non-league football or didn't play at all.

It's going to be tough as she's going to come under a lot of pressure, but I'm sure she's not willing to take that position without knowing that beforehand.

Why has it got to start somewhere ?

 

[Syn_13]

Why has it got to start somewhere ?

I'm not saying it necessarily has to start, as in we have to flood the game with female managers as a form of affirmative action. I'm just pointing out that I'm sure there's a lot of women out there who would probably make good managers/coaches but won't get the chance to in men's football where the perceived money, fame and glory is. This is as good a place to start as any.

Good luck to her for wanting to try and I hope she does well. She's certainly got a point to prove and it ain't going to be easy. The French second division is a decent level to start a managerial career in men's football, so she'll have a lot of pressure on her, added to the obvious pressure of being a woman in charge of a men's football team.

 

[Macspur261]

I'm not saying it necessarily has to start, as in we have to flood the game with female managers as a form of affirmative action. I'm just pointing out that I'm sure there's a lot of women out there who would probably make good managers/coaches but won't get the chance to in men's football where the perceived money, fame and glory is. This is as good a place to start as any.

Good luck to her for wanting to try and I hope she does well. She's certainly got a point to prove and it ain't going to be easy. The French second division is a decent level to start a managerial career in men's football, so she'll have a lot of pressure on her, added to the obvious pressure of being a woman in charge of a men's football team.

Lucky there's not a French 3rd divison !
What a publicity stunt.

 

[Syn_13]

Lucky there's not a French 3rd divison !
What a publicity stunt.

It may well be, but I'd be surprised if a football club would risk the overall success of a club, and potentially become a bit of a joke if it doesn't work out well, just for a publicity stunt. It's the kind of crazy thing we'd do, so who knows.

I don't know her history, whether she's had success as a manager in women's football, or whether the people who scouted her out watched her and thought that she's got what it takes. I'd like to hope so, because if it is a publicity stunt then they're not exactly helping the portrayal of women in professional football.