After leading Wales Women for almost three years, Gemma Grainger has decided to step down from her role as manager to take up the position of head coach for Norway Women.
During her time as Wales manager, Grainger guided the team to a successful spell, coming close to qualifying for the Women’s World Cup last summer, only to miss out on a last-minute defeat in the play-off final against Switzerland.
One of the highlights of Grainger’s tenure was when Wales registered a record attendance for a women’s international match.
During a World Cup play-off semi-final match against Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Cardiff City Stadium, 15,200 fans showed up to cheer the Welsh team.
Wales finished bottom of Group A3 in the inaugural Women’s Nations League, having played against Germany, Denmark, and Iceland.
However, Grainger’s last game in charge was a 1-1 draw against Germany at the Swansea.com Stadium, earning Wales their only point of the campaign.
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Grainger will now take over the former World Cup and European champions Norway, succeeding Leif Gunnar Smerud, who had been in interim charge following the departure of Hege Riise after the World Cup.
Norway were knocked out in the last 16 in Australia and New Zealand.
In a statement, Grainger expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to work with the Welsh team and proud nation, saying that she had given her heart and soul to their journey.
She also expressed her confidence in the Welsh team’s ability to continue to build and grow from this point forward.
The Welsh Football Association (FAW) expressed its sincere gratitude for Grainger’s achievements during her time as national team manager.
FAW Chief Executive, Noel Mooney, said that they had progressed well under Grainger and that now, they would enter a period of recruitment for a new manager who will give them the best opportunity to qualify for Euro 2025 and the 2027 World Cup.
FAW President, Steve Williams, also thanked Grainger for her hard work during her tenure as manager, saying that he believed her eventual successor would have the tools to continue pushing the team to new heights.
