Wellington, New Zealand-Canada coach prohibits his role in a drone spy scandal at the Paris Olympic Games has been hired as head coach of the New Zealand Professional Women’s team.
Bev Priestman, who recently ended a year’s suspension of all football-related activities, signed a two-year agreement with Wellington Phoenix in the New Zealand capital.
Priestman’s wife, Emma Humphries, was hired by Wellington Phoenix in December as director of the club academy. Humphries, a former New Zealand international, previously trained the national teams of young Canadians.
This is a turn of fate for the priest, which was suspended after a FIFA investigation discovered that it, with other coache employees, used drones to spy on the New Zealand national team before Canada’s first game at the Paris Olympic Games.
She was dismissed as a Canada chief coach after a Canada football exam.
“We are really happy to be able to welcome Bev to football,” the president of Phoenix said on Wednesday Rob Morrison on Wednesday. “We all know that she had a period of time away from the game. But we understand the circumstances and we are really comfortable with this meeting.”
Priestman guided Canada to a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympic Games and resulted in four Women’s World Cups, three Olympic Games and three FIFA World Cups. She also worked in New Zealand, in the development of coach in Wellington, then as director of development of New Zealand Football.
In a press release, Priestman thanked the club and the officials for having “given this chance of returning to the game I like and, hope it, bring special moments not only to this city, but also to this country”.
Phoenix “is a fantastic club with great ambitions, world class facilities and a phenomenal fans base,” she said. “We are now responsible for driving the flag of this country and trying to do something special.”
Wellington Phoenix plays in high-level female competition in Australia, women in the A-League and the priest targets the title.
“There will be hungry and a desire there because we know that we want to achieve a first [winning the title] For this club and do, it will take something special, “she said in the club’s declaration.
Stephen Conroy, president of the Australian professional leagues, said that the priest’s signature was a “fantastic approval” for the competition.
“BEV is a head coach of the world renowned national team and Olympic champion,” said Conroy. “And his experience and expertise will be a huge boost for the emerging team of Phoenix.”
The information from the Associated Press was used in this story. ESPN writer Jeff Kassouf also contributed.
