English football club Forest Green Rovers have named former academy manager Hannah Dingley as its interim head coach.
Dingley now becomes the first female head coach to ever manage an English professional football club.
She replaces outgoing coach Duncan Ferguson, who was appointed Forest Green manager in January. However, Ferguson could not help the team escape relegation to League 2, the lowest tier of professional English football.
Dingley’s position as head coach is a temporary one as the club looks to find a permanent manager.
“I’m really excited for this next step of my career,” Dingley said in a statement Tuesday.
“Pre-season has just begun and the full season kicks off very soon. It’s an exciting time in football. I am grateful for the opportunity to step up and lead such a progressive and forward-thinking club.
Speaking on her appointment, Forest Green chairman Dale Vince praised Hannah Dingley.
Hannah “is well aligned with the values of the club”
He stated: “Hannah was the natural choice for us to be first team interim Head Coach. She’s done a fantastic job leading our Academy and is well aligned with the values of the club.
“It’s perhaps telling for the men’s game that in making this appointment on merit, we’ll break new ground. And Hannah will be the first female Head Coach in English (men’s) football.”
Meanwhile, Hannah Dingley will lead Forest Green onto the pitch on Wednesday for its friendly match at Melksham Town.
According to the Vegan Society, Forest Green became the world’s first vegan club back in 2017. Some of its players even switched to a plant-based diet, and it puts sustainability at the heart of everything it does.
Interestingly, FIFA also named Forest Green the “greenest club in the world” in the same year. The club continues to find innovative ways to lower its carbon footprint – such as organic pitches and electric team coaches.
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