Everton Women have appointed Jean-Luc Vasseur, who coached Lyon to a Women’s Champions League win, as their manager on a deal to June 2024.
Vasseur succeeds Willie Kirk, who was sacked after a poor start to the season. The Frenchman was the Uefa women’s coach of the year for 2019-20 after Lyon won the Champions League, French league, Coupe de France, Trophée des Championnes and Women’s International Champions Cup.
Emma Hayes warns Chelsea not to take wounded Manchester City lightlyRead more
Vasseur was sacked by Lyon in April 2021 towards the end of a barren campaign after they were knocked out of the Champions League by Paris St-Germain, who went on to pip Lyon to the league title.
“I’ve come here to write new history with Everton and to win titles,” Vasseur said. “We have a lot of talent and resources so I think there is good capacity to improve. I have the ambition to build a team that can achieve Champions League qualification. We have to be patient and fight to win.”
The 52-year-old, who played as a midfielder for clubs including PSG, is taking his first job outside his homeland. He coached in PSG’s academy and managed the senior men’s teams Créteil, Reims, Paris FC and Châteauroux before being appointed by the Lyon women’s team in June 2019.
Everton Women’s sporting and commercial director, Sarvar Ismailov, said: “We wanted a proven winner and he has won numerous titles. We also wanted a someone with DNA which matches our club’s – someone with an attacking vision, who fights until the end.”
Everton are eighth in the Women’s Super League and play at home to Brighton next Saturday.
