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Kenny Shiels steps down as boss of Northern Ireland Women after a four-year stint… nine months after the 66-year-old caused controversy with his claim that women’s teams concede goals in rapid succession because they are “more EMOTIONAL than men”.
- Northern Ireland Women’s boss Kenny Shiels stepped down after four years.
- Shiels guided his team to their first major tournament by reaching Euro 2022
- He caused a stir in April when he said women were “more emotional” than men.
Kenny Shiels has left his role as Northern Ireland Women’s manager after a four-year spell.
Shiels took charge of the national team in 2019 and leaves with an impressive record on the pitch, having guided his team to their first major tournament by qualifying for Euro 2022.
However, Northern Ireland finished bottom of their group, losing all three games to England, Norway and Austria.
Kenny Shiels has left his role as Northern Ireland Women’s manager after a four-year spell.
During Shiels’ tenure, Northern Ireland reached its first major tournament at Euro 2022.
But Shiels sparked major controversy ahead of Euro 2022 when she claimed “women are more emotional than men” after her team lost 5-0 to England in a World Cup qualifier in April 2022.
He had used it as a reason for women’s teams to concede goals in quick succession and Shiels was widely criticized for his comments, before later apologizing.
Shiels had said: ‘In the women’s game, I’ve noticed, as I’m sure you know, if you look at the patterns.
“When a team concedes a goal, they concede a second in a very, very short period of time, across the spectrum of the women’s game, because girls and women are more emotional than men.
‘So, they don’t take a goal very well going on. When we were down 1-0, we tried to slow down to give them time to get that emotional imbalance out of their heads.
‘That is a problem we have. Not just in Northern Ireland, but in every country in the world. Shiels later commented, “I shouldn’t have told you that.”
They went on to lose every game at Euro 2022, but Shiels oversaw progress on paper.
However, he was criticized after his comments about women “being more emotional than men” as a reason for his team conceding goals in quick succession in a match against England.
Shiels, who called his team’s qualification for the European Championship “the greatest sporting achievement in UK history”, leaves Northern Ireland 47th in the latest FIFA world rankings.
After his departure was announced on Tuesday, the 66-year-old 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 the senior women’s games and I was delighted to see so many members of the Green and White Army travel to England to cheer on us last summer at Euros.
The Northern Ireland women’s team is currently ranked 47th in the latest FIFA world rankings.
“I want to thank everyone who has supported me and the team during my time as manager.”
Irish FA Director General Patrick Nelson added: “Kenny’s impact on women’s and women’s football in Northern Ireland has been transformative. Securing that historic Euro qualification is forever etched in the history of the Irish FA. .
“We thank Kenny for his contribution to this and the success of the senior women’s team in recent years.”