National women’s football coach stars in guest lecture

Anna Signeul, Scotland women’s football coach, shared her experiences at Perth College UHI on 23 May, in the first of a series of sport and wellbeing-focussed guest lectures.

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Anna at Perth College UHI

Anna, a Swedish former football player who has coached the national team since March 2005, highlighted to the audience her journey from player to coach, and in particular, her experiences in relation to talent identification and management.

Sharon McGuire, Perth College UHI Sport and Fitness Sector Manager added: “We were delighted to welcome Anna to Perth College UHI as our first guest speaker in a series of lectures on sport and wellbeing based in our new Academy of Sport and Wellbeing. Her talk outlined what is required to reach the highest level as a country, club, team, coach, player and volunteer within football.  Anna explained her coaching philosophy and the demands required of players and inspired us all to be our own coach.”

Former Coaching and Developing Sport student, now an Active Schools Coordinator Nick Keiller said: “It was brilliant to hear from someone at the sharp end of elite sport in Scotland. The most interesting part for me was the idea that whilst talent is an important mechanism to success - hard-work, dedication and determination are equally as important.”

Wendy Young, Perth College UHI Sport and Fitness Lecturer said: “There was learning in this lecture for everyone from sports psychologists, coaches, and fitness instructors to sports nutritionists.  Anna discussed everything from politics to equality and the Scottish diet.”

Olivia Blair, women's football coach for St Andrews University and Saints in the Community added: "I found Anna’s lecture extremely inspirational, as a women’s football coach, I can apply techniques she explained when coaching players now and in the future.”

David Hay, Olympic Coach and Olympian said: “At the superb new Perth College UHI Academy of Sport and Fitness facilities, this year's lecture series got off to an excellent start, when Anna Signeul took us through her 12-year reign as national coach of Scotland Ladies football team. She has achieved an incredible amount both on and off the pitch, culminating in the team qualifying for this year's European Championships. Changing a culture in any sport or country is a challenge but this is something that Anna has achieved and I'm sure has played a massive part in the team's success. I wish the team very success in the Europeans."

Anna began her coaching career at the age of 21 while still a player at IK Brage. She coached at club level including spells at Stromsbro IF and Tyreso FF and from 1996 worked with the Swedish FA as head of the national women’s teams at youth level.

Anna will lead the Scotland team to the Euros in the Netherlands this August, after which she will leave her role to manage the Finish National Team. In addition to her position as National Coach, Anna also has a wider remit in charge of developing the women’s game at all levels in Scotland and has just recently taken on a role on the International Football Advisory Board, a decision-making body for the laws of the game.