Page 12 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.15 2022-23

The Scottish FA has appointed Michael McArdle as new Girls’ and Women’s Performance
Manager. Michael will lead the strategic development of female talent in Scotland, including
overseeing and implementing a range of programmes and pathways for talent identification
within girls’ and women’s football.
The role will also encompass responsibility for high performance programmes and
transitioning pathways into the Scotland Women’s National Team. This includes working
closely with Head Coach, Pedro Martinez Losa, who oversees the strategy and performance
vision for the Scottish FA.
Michael joins the Scottish FA from St Mirren Football Club, where he currently works
as Head of Coaching. He recently graduated with an MSc in Advanced Performance Football
Coaching as well as gaining his UEFA Pro Licence earlier this year.
With vast experience in leadership and management, as well as established coaching
and player development skills, Michael will lead the implementation of a performance plan
to promote a culture of high performance and excellence for girls’ and women across the
country.
Across his 28-year career, he has worked with Falkirk FC and Ayr United, prior to which
he worked within construction and engineering. He will take up his new role in early 2023.
Scottish FA Chief Football Officer Andy Gould told www.scottishfa.co.uk: “Michael was
the standout candidate for the position, which garnered a strong pool of applicants from
across the globe, including from other high performance sports.
“This position will be instrumental in progressing the elite level of the girls’ and
women’s game and it was vitally important that the successful candidate was the right
person to drive this key area for our strategy.
“Michael has all of the attributes that we need for the role – from his experience in the
game developing players and coaches, to his leadership and management skills, it’s a very
exciting appointment.
“Michael’s passion and dedication to football is second to none and we are looking
forward to working together to take our game to the next level, not just for this generation
but for the generations to come.”
Michael McArdle, Scottish FA Girls’ and Women’s Performance Manager, said: “The
girls’ and women’s game in Scotland has seen tremendous growth in recent years and it is
an honour to be in a position where I can help shape the future of the national game.
“It is an exciting time and we have genuine potential for continued growth ahead of us
and a fantastic vision of how the girls’ and women’s game should progress.”
“We are strengthening resources in every area which is vital to the development of the
women’s game – from talent identification to development pathways – and we are
determined to maximise the potential of every single girl or woman that wants to play
football in Scotland.”
Scotland Women’s National Team Head Coach Pedro Martinez Losa added: “Michael’s
background in elite player development made him the outstanding candidate in what was a
robust recruitment process that delivered a diverse and high-calibre field of applicants.
“His role will be instrumental in the continued growth of the elite girls’ and women’s
game, progressing the development pathway across the age group and building on
established relationships with our stakeholders across the game.
“I am particularly looking forward to working with Michael to build on our collective
vision for the Scottish game – his experience will lend itself to our goal of establishing a
progressive style of play embedded within the national teams that we will look to permeate
across the game as we continue to develop.”
(www.scottishfa.co.uk)
news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk