Gemma Grainger

English football manager

Gemma Grainger
Personal information
Full name Gemma Grainger
Date of birth (1982-07-17) 17 July 1982 (age 41)
Place of birth Middlesbrough, England
Team information
Current team
 Norway (manager)
Managerial career
Years Team
2010–2011 Leeds United
2012–2013 Middlesbrough
2018–2019 England U17
2021–2024 Wales
2024– Norway

Gemma Grainger (born 17 July 1982) is an English football manager and former player who manages the Norway women's national team. She previously managed at club level with Leeds United and Middlesbrough.[1]

Managerial career

Early club career

Grainger was appointed manager of Women's Premier League club Leeds United for the 2010–11 season.[2] After a poor start she parted ways with the club in January 2011.[3] She was appointed manager of Northern Combination club Middlesbrough for the 2012–13 season, leading the club to a fourth place finish.[4] Grainger left the club in 2013 due to commitments to the England development teams.

England development

A UEFA Pro Licence since holder 2016, Grainger coached various England women's development teams, including at the 2014 U-20 World Cup, 2016 U-17 World Cup and European finals at under-19 (twice) and under-17 level. She was also part of the England senior coaching team for UEFA Women's Euro 2017.[5]

Grainger was appointed England under-17 manager in September 2018.[6] Her first match was a 6–0 win against Moldova.[7] England were unbeaten in qualification to the 2019 UEFA Under-17 Championship, winning all games, but were eliminated in the group stage of the final tournament on goal difference.[8] In total she managed more than 90 England international fixtures in 11 years with the Football Association.

Wales

Grainger was appointed Wales manager in March 2021 on a four-year contract.[9] Wales began their 2023 World Cup qualification with a 6–0 win against Kazakhstan.[10] The team qualified for the play-offs, beating Bosnia and Herzegovina 1–0 in the first round,[11] but losing 2–1 to Switzerland in the second round.[12]

On 9 July 2023, the team travelled to San Jose, California, for a friendly with world champions the United States, losing 2–0.[13]

Norway

On 10 January 2024, it was announced that Grainger would leave her post with Wales to take on the head coaching role with Norway.[14]

Managerial statistics

As of 10 April 2024[15]
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record
P W D L GF GA GD Win %
Wales 19 March 2021 10 January 2024 32 10 9 13 39 35 +4 031.25
Norway 10 January 2024 Present 4 3 0 1 12 1 +11 075.00
Career totals 36 13 9 14 51 36 +15 036.11

References

  1. ^ Jones, Jordan (19 March 2021). "England youth coach Gemma Grainger appointed as Wales manager". Y Clwb Pêl-droed. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  2. ^ "Leeds women kick off defence of Premier League Cup in United guise". The Guardian. 29 August 2010. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  3. ^ "Rick Passmoor gives Leeds a lift after Gemma Grainger is sacked". The Guardian. 23 January 2011. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  4. ^ "Middlesbrough LFC Season Review". SheKicks. 6 June 2013. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  5. ^ "Gemma Grainger Named on England Women's Coaching Staff on Interim Basis". The Football Association. 1 July 2017. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  6. ^ "England Women's National Development Team Structure Update". The Football Association. 17 September 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  7. ^ "Melissa Filis Hits Hat-trick as Young Lionesses Ease to Euro Qualifying Victory". The Football Association. 19 September 2018. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  8. ^ "Young Lionesses Miss out on WU17s Euro Semi on Goal Difference". The Football Association. 11 May 2019. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  9. ^ "Wales appoint Grainger as new manager". BBC Sport. 19 March 2021. Retrieved 19 March 2021.
  10. ^ "Women's World Cup qualifier: Wales 6–0 Kazakhstan". BBC Sport. 17 September 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  11. ^ "Wales 1-0 Bosnia & Herzegovina: Jess Fishlock hits extra-time winner as hosts progress in World Cup play-offs". Sky Sports. 7 October 2022. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  12. ^ "Switzerland 2-1 Wales: Fabienne Humm's extra-time winner denies Gemma Grainger's side a place at 2023 Women's World Cup". Sky Sports. 12 October 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  13. ^ "USA 2-0 Wales Women: Gutsy Welsh visitors frustrate world champions before America sub Trinity Rodman proves the difference". Wales Online. 12 October 2022. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  14. ^ "Gemma Grainger: Wales manager steps down to take up Norway job". BBC Sport. 10 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  15. ^ "Wales". Soccerway.

External links

  • Gemma Grainger at Soccerway
  • v
  • t
  • e
Middlesbrough F.C. Women – managers
  • Wieczorek (1996–2012)
  • Grainger (2012–13)
  • Leigh (2013–14)
  • Stephenson (2014–18)
  • Byrne (2018)
  • Fairless (2018–21)
  • Campbell (2021–22)
  • Mulhern (2022–)
  • v
  • t
  • e
Norway women's national football team – managers
(c) = caretaker manager
  • v
  • t
  • e
Current managers of UEFA women's national teams
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