Kenny Shiels has left his role as manager of the Northern Ireland senior women’s team.
Mr Shiels joined the association in 2019 and guided the senior women’s team to a first ever major tournament, UEFA Women’s Euro 2022, following a two-legged play-off win over Ukraine in April 2021.
As a player he represented clubs such as Coleraine, Distillery and Ballymena United in the Irish League before turning his hand to management. His coaching career has taken him to clubs as diverse as Carrick Rangers, Moyola Park and BEC Tero Sasana in Thailand. And as Northern Ireland senior women’s team manager he enjoyed unprecedented levels of success.
Shiels said: “I have enjoyed my time as senior women’s manager immensely. I have worked hard with the players to raise their expectations and change their style of play so that we were a team to be reckoned with.
“This success has generated record attendance figures at senior women’s games and I was delighted to see so many of the Green and White Army travel to England to cheer us on last summer at the Euros.
“I want to thank everyone who has backed me, and the team, during my time as manager.”
Irish FA CEO Patrick Nelson said: "Kenny’s impact on the women’s and girls’ game in Northern Ireland has been transformative. Securing that historic qualification to the Euros is forever etched in Irish FA history.
“We thank Kenny for his contribution to this and the success of the senior women’s team in recent years.”
Irish FA President Conrad Kirkwood said: “There have been some wonderful achievements for the senior women’s team under Kenny’s stewardship. We thank him for this and wish him the best for the future.”
