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Casey Stoney has agreed to become the new head coach of the Canada women’s national team, multiple sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed to The Equalizer.
Stoney, a former England international defender, takes over the world’s sixth-ranked team after last coaching the San Diego Wave in the National Women’s Soccer League. Stoney was fired by the Wave in June, only months after signing a long-term contract extension.
Canada has been in search of a head coach since the abrupt removal of Bev Priestman as head coach days before the 2024 Olympics due to a drone spying scandal. Priestman initially removed herself and was quickly suspended from coaching and eventually fired following a review of the incident.
An investigation revealed alleged widespread cheating within Canada Soccer through years of using drones to spy on opponents.
Canada entered the tournament as the reigning Olympic gold medalists. Two Canada staff members were caught spying on a New Zealand practice days ahead of the opening Olympic match between the teams in July. The team was docked six points but won all three group matches to advance to the quarterfinals, where the Canadians lost to Germany in a penalty shootout.
A Canada Soccer spokesperson Paulo Senra issued the following statement to The Equalizer: “The search is ongoing and is confidential, and we are not commenting on the accuracy of any rumors. When there is news to report, you will hear it directly from us.”
Stoney enjoyed quick success upon her arrival in San Diego. She guided the Wave to a playoff appearance in 2022 as an expansion team – a first in league history – and San Diego led the league for half the season. She was named NWSL Coach of the Year.
The Wave then won the NWSL Shield in 2023 as the best team in the regular season in the league’s tightest title race in history.
San Diego was 3-5-6 (15 pts.) at the time of Stoney’s firing last June. In January 2024, amid rumors that Stoney could be a top candidate for the impending opening at Chelsea, the Wave signed her to a contract extension through 2027 with a mutual option for 2028.
Prior to coaching San Diego, Stoney was the first head coach of Manchester United’s women’s team. She led the team to promotion to England’s top flight in her first season in charge, then guided Manchester United to a fourth-place finish in its first season in the Women’s Super League. They finished fourth again the following season – Stoney’s last in charge – after briefly competing for the title in the first half of the season.
Speaking to Christen Press and Tobin Heath – who both played for Stoney at Manchester United – in November on The RE-CAP Show, Stoney said she and her family remained in San Diego for family reasons and that she was interested in returning to coaching in the NWSL, where she has “unfinished business.”
Asked if she would coach a national team, Stoney said at the time: “Not yet, I don’t think. I don’t know. It would have to be the right national team, the right opportunity. I like to be day to day at the moment with the players and on the grass, working.”
As a player, Stoney made 130 appearances for England, primarily as a centerback. She played for several clubs in England, including Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool.
