New Wellington Phoenix head coach Bev Priestman says the Ninja A-League club felt like the right place to restart her coaching career after a 12-month ban from football.
Priestman was named Wellington’s new head coach on a two-year deal on Wednesday morning, and has arrived in the league as one of the best credentialed coaches in A-Leagues history.
The UEFA pro license holder recently finished serving a one-year ban from any football-related activity for her role in the Canadian team’s misuse of drones at last year’s Paris Olympics.
Speaking to the media after her appointment at the Phoenix, Priestman reflected on her 12 months spent away from football.
FULL STORY: Olympic gold medallist Bev Priestman unveiled as Wellington Phoenix boss
“I can’t really speak to the details of what went on in Paris and the things around that,” Priestman said.
“But you know, for me, I’ve taken that 12 months to reflect, to learn, to grow, and it’s been very difficult, and I’m just excited to put my head down, work hard, and get back to work and do what I love every day.
“Everybody involved will certainly have regrets, for sure. What I will say is, I’m a pretty optimistic person, and I think there (have) been days in the last 12 months that that optimism has been very difficult.
“But again, it feels like Christmas Day to me.
“I know I have to earn the trust of everybody and and I’ll be working hard to do that. But like I say, I’m just thrilled to be here, and I can’t wait to get to work.”
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Priestman’s appointment as Wellington head coach sees the experienced Englishwoman return to the city where she led coach development at New Zealand Football 16 years ago.
She then went on to become the director of football development at NZF.
“It’s fantastic to be here,” Priestman said.
“I think, firstly, I’d like to say a big thank you to the Phoenix, to Rob (chairman Rob Morrison), to Gilly (director of football Shaun Gill), for putting faith in me to come back to the game.
“I’m super excited. And to get to this point, obviously I had conversations with the Phoenix, but at the same time, respecting the restriction that I’ve been under.
“For me, I think coming back, it’s, it’s felt like the right move. I think just coming back and seeing these facilities that we’re in here right now, I think it’s got a really good feeling about the club. There are a lot of female coaches in the club. There are some unbelievable players, and they’ve acquired some more unbelievable players.
“So, yeah, just super excited. I can’t wait to get to work. Today’s a good day.”
After her official unveiling as Phoenix head coach, Priestman says her next objective is to get to know her squad members while targeting midfield and attacking signings to add to Wellington’s already stacked list of impressive off-season recruits.
“Probably midfield and another forward, I think, is something we’ve talked about.
“We do have some in the pipeline that, in the next week or so, I think we will look to announce.
“I think overall, the theme (for signings) would be experience. And obviously, you’ve seen the signings that we’ve made to date (like) ‘Samba’ (Sabitra Bhandari) as a number nine.
“I think that really, can bolster that side of it, but I think more importantly, I think the character, the work ethic and real positive forward-thinking players have been something that I’ve seen from the signings that the club have made, but also for the signings that are to come in the coming weeks.”
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Priestman was then asked whether recently-retired former Phoenix captain Annalie Longo – an experienced midfielder who possesses all of the above traits – could be coerced out of retirement to return to the Phoenix.
“She knows where we are,” Priestman said.
“Listen, I got to see ‘Flea’ last season, and she dictated a lot of things on the football pitch, and for me, probably some of the best football I’ve ever seen her play.
“But I’ve been on the coach of some big retirements in their careers, and it’s a difficult moment, I think, for anyone to make that decision and be comfortable with it.
“I mean, I’d welcome her back with open arms. I’m sure the whole of Wellington in the country would but you know, we have to respect where she’s at in her career.
“I thought she was absolutely outstanding – and she’ll always be welcome.”
