Helen Lorraine Nkwocha (born 24 August 1976) is an English football manager and former footballer who is currently manager of Faroe Islands Premier League club Tvøroyrar Bóltfelag. In August 2021, Nkwocha gained international attention for being the first woman to manage a top-flight European men's football team.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Helen Lorraine Nkwocha[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 24 August 1976 | ||
| Place of birth | London, England | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Tvøroyrar Bóltfelag (manager) | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| Millwall Lionesses | |||
| Wimbledon | |||
| Crystal Palace | |||
| Fulham | |||
| Tooting & Mitcham | |||
| Managerial career | |||
| 2021– | Tvøroyrar Bóltfelag (men) | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Personal life
editNkwocha was born and raised in South London by her mother, Justina. She was the youngest of five siblings.[2] Since the age of 14, Nkwocha had aspired to be a police officer. She joined the Metropolitan Police at 20 after graduating from the University of North London with a literature degree.[3][4] She spent a total of 15 years with the police.[5] Since January 2021, Nkwocha has lived in the village of Tvøroyri.[4]
Playing career
editDuring her 23 year playing career, Nkwocha played for a number of clubs including Millwall Lionesses, Wimbledon, Crystal Palace, Fulham and Tooting & Mitcham. An anterior cruciate ligament injury was what led her to retire in her early thirties.[2]
Managerial career
editIn order to fulfill her wish to become a professional football manager, Nkwocha sold her home and decided to live on a houseboat instead.[6] When she was appointed manager of Faroese club Tvøroyrar Bóltfelag, she became the first female manager to lead a top-flight European male team in football.[7] She was initially hired to run the youth team in January 2021 but was promoted to the head coach of the senior team in September of that year.[4] Her first match in charge was a 1–6 loss to Havnar Bóltfelag.[8]
References
edit- ^ "Helen Nkwocha". World Football. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
- ^ a b "About Coach Helen". Immersed in the Game. 23 November 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
- ^ "Helen Nkwocha: The woman who gave up everything to coach". BBC Sport. 30 April 2015. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
- ^ a b c Young-Myles, Oliver (12 October 2021). "Helen Nkwocha: Meet the former police officer making history as a men's football coach in Faroe Islands". i. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
- ^ "Interview: Helen Lorraine Nkwocha". The Sporting Influencer. 26 July 2016. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
- ^ Stone, Simon (10 October 2021). "Helen Nkwocha - the first female coach of a European top-flight men's team". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
- ^ "Helen Nkwocha: First female coach of a top-flight European men's team discusses her trailblazer status". Sky Sports. 18 October 2021. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
- ^ Baran, Paweł (2 October 2021). "Tego jeszcze nie było! Helen Lorraine Nkwocha pierwszą kobietą w Europie, która została trenerem w piłkarskiej ekstraklasie" (in Polish). TVP Sport. Retrieved 25 October 2021.