Helena Costa
|
File:Helena Costa.jpg Costa as the coach of the Qatar women's national team in 2012 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Helena Margarida dos Santos e Costa | ||
| Date of birth | 15 April 1978 | ||
| Place of birth | Alhandra, Vila Franca de Xira, Portugal | ||
| Managerial career | |||
| Years | Team | ||
| 1997–2010 | Benfica (youth) | ||
| 2005–2006 | Cheleirense | ||
| 2006–2008 | 1º Dezembro (Women) | ||
| 2008–2009 | Odivelas (Women) | ||
| 2010–2012 | Qatar (Women) | ||
| 2012–2014 | Iran (Women) | ||
| 2014 | Clermont Foot | ||
Helena Margarida dos Santos e Costa (born 15 April 1978) is a Portuguese football manager.
Career
Costa has a Masters degree in sports science and a UEFA A Licence in coaching.[1] From 1997 to 2010, she coached Benfica's youth team, leading them to second place in the national championship in 2005. At the same time, she managed lower league side Cheleirense, winning the Lisbon championship in 2006. She also managed women's sides, winning two league titles with S.U. 1º Dezembro in 2007 and 2008, and taking Odivelas to promotion to the top flight as champions.[1] From 2008 to 2011, she was a scout for Scottish club Celtic F.C. in Portugal and Spain.[2][1] Costa returned to Celtic as a scout for separate spells in 2012 and in 2013.[3]
As an international manager, she managed Qatar's women to their first ever victory (4–1 against the Maldives in 2012). On 22 October 2012 she was appointed manager of Iran's women[4] but could not lead them to the 2015 World Cup.[1]
She was initially going to coach French Ligue 2 club Clermont Foot from the end of the 2013–14 season[1] becoming the first female coach of a professional football club in France, and the first in the top two tiers in Europe.[5] France's Women's Minister, Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, reacted to Costa's announced appointment at Clermont Foot by writing "Congratulations to Clermont Foot for understanding that giving a place to women is the future of professional football" on Twitter.[6] However in June 2014, she decided to quit the position,[7] citing "personal reasons."[8]
References
- ^ a b c d e Helena Costa: French Ligue 2 side Clermont Foot name woman boss BBC Sport, 7 May 2014
- ^ "Congratulations to Helena Costa on historic appointment". Celtic F.C. 7 May 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2014.
- ^ World First Top Female Boss Daily Record (Scotland). 11-05-2014. Retrieved 15-05-2014.
- ^ "Helena Costa to become Iran's Women football coach". OANA News. 22 October 2012.
- ^ "French second division club appoint first female coach". inside World Soccer. 8 May 2014.
- ^ Belkacem, Najat (7 May 2014). "Bravo au Clermont Foot de comprendre que donner leur place aux femmes est l'avenir du football professionnel". Twitter (in French). Retrieved 8 May 2014.
- ^ "Communiqué officiel" (in French). clermontfoot.com. 23 June 2014. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
- ^ "Helena Costa: Female coach explains Clermont quit decision". BBC Sport. 24 June 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2014.