Former Canada coach Bev Priestman returns to coaching with Wellington Phoenix FC
The two-year appointment coincides with the expiration of Priestman's one-year FIFA ban arising from the drone incident.
'We're really pleased to be able to welcome Bev back to football,' Wellington chairman Rob Morrison said. 'We all know she's had a period of time away from the game, but we understand the circumstances and we're really comfortable with this appointment.'
Wellington finished ninth in Australia's 12-team A-League last season at 7-13-3.
'Bev is a world-class coach and a top person, and I have no doubt she will bring her winning mentality to the Wellington Phoenix,' Morrison said.
Priestman, assistant coach Jasmine Mander and analyst Joey Lombardi were all handed one-year suspensions by FIFA in the wake of New Zealand's Olympic Committee filing a complaint with the International Olympic Committee's integrity unit, alleging drones were flown over a pair of pre-tournament practice sessions. All three are no longer with Canada Soccer.
The 39-year-old Priestman has ties to the Wellington club through her wife Emma Humphries, a former New Zealand international who is the club's academy director. Priestman also headed up coach development in Wellington some 16 years ago.
'I'm thrilled to have signed with the Wellington Phoenix,' said Priestman. 'It's a fantastic club with big ambitions, world-class facilities and a phenomenal fan base. I can't wait to get to work, connect with everyone in the building and get to know our amazing fans.
'Coming back to New Zealand and seeing the Phoenix week in week out as the only professional women's team has been amazing. We have a responsibility now to fly the flag for this country and try to do something special.'
Priestman spent five years with Canada Soccer in a variety of coaching roles before returning in June 2018 to her native England, where she served as coach of England's women's under-18 side and assistant coach with the senior English women.
Priestman succeeded Kenneth Heiner-Moller as Canada women's coach in November 2020 and was a nominee for FIFA Women's Best Coach in 2021 and 2022.
In her first go-round with Canada Soccer, Priestman served as director of its developmental EXCEL program and had stints as coach of the under-15, under-17 and under-20 women's sides. She was also an assistant coach to John Herdman while he was in charge of the women's team.
Before that, she spent 4 1/2 years with New Zealand Football, serving as head of football development before leaving in June 2013 to join Herdman in Canada.
Stephen Conroy, executive chairman of the Australian Professional Leagues (APL), welcomed Priestman's appointment.
'Bev is a world-renowned national team head coach and Olympic champion, and her experience and expertise will be a huge boost for the up-and-coming squad at the Phoenix.'
—-
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 29, 2025.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NBC Sports
23 minutes ago
- NBC Sports
Luca Urlando wins first career world title in 200m butterfly
Luca Urlando claimed his first world title and the first title for the American men at the World Championships in the 200m butterfly, becoming the first American man to win this event at a World Championship since Michael Phelps did in 2011. Urlando lowered his personal best by a half-second to 1:51.87, joining Phelps and Olympic gold medalists Kristof Milak and Leon Marchand as the only swimmers to break 1:52.00. For Urlando, this win is more than just a world title, it represents the adversity he has overcome. Nearly three years ago, Urlando had to be helped out of the pool after dislocating his shoulder for a third time in a three-year span. This injury came just one year after Urlando finished third in both the 100m and 200m butterfly at the 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials, one place shy of qualifying for the Olympics. 'It has felt like a six-year process to get back to this moment,' Urlando said on Peacock. 'A lot of doubt, a lot of really hard times, a lot of things that people don't see on an everyday basis. So I kind of told myself post-surgery, if I could get through those next few months, nothing could really stop me. Obviously getting to do it on a world stage like this is just amazing.' Despite the absence of Olympic gold-medalist Marchand, who opted out of this event to focus on the 200m IM, and world-record holder Milak, who isn't competing in this year's competition, Urlando raced as the top seed in prelims, semifinals and finals, swimming three of his four fastest times in his career. The 23-year-old, who finished 17th in the same event at the 2024 Paris Olympics just 20 months after his injury, has had arguably the best year of his swimming career. He competed in his final collegiate season with the University of Georgia, where he won the NCAA title in the 200y butterfly with an American, NCAA, U.S. Open, SEC and school record time. A week later, he swam lifetime bests in the 100m and 200m butterfly at the Pro Swim Series in his hometown of Sacramento. He became the second-fastest American in history in the 200m fly, behind Phelps, dropping over a second from his previous best time from 2019. 'The belief that I can get back to a moment like this after all that adversity,' Urlando said. 'Just internal belief.' With the 2028 LA Olympics three years away, Urlando will attempt to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather, Giampaolo Urlando, who competed in three Olympics, including the 1984 LA Games, in the hammer throw. 'I hope to just build off more experiences like this,' Urlando said. 'It's a huge stepping stone for 2028. I have some new goals going forward, going to work through them with my coach and see how much I can get better at the little things. Just continue with that.' Nick Zaccardi, In other finals Wednesday, Australian Mollie O'Callaghan followed her 2024 Olympic title by winning a second world title in the 200m free. She clocked 1:53.48, distancing Li Bingjie of China by 1.04. Claire Weinstein, an 18-year-old American, took bronze after personal bests in the semis and final. It's her first individual medal at a major international long-course meet. Weinstein was one of the Americans who dealt with a stomach bug leading up to worlds. 'A week ago, I didn't know if I was going to be able to swim in this meet,' she said on Peacock. Ahmed Jaouadi extended Tunisia's distance tradition by taking the 800m free in 7:36.88, the third-fastest time in history. He beat a field that included the last two Olympic gold medalists — American Bobby Finke (fourth) and Ireland's Daniel Wiffen (eighth). Finke said he was happy to make the final and that his personal goals were derailed by the stomach bug, according to NBC Sports' Nicole Auerbach. Wiffen was set back last month by appendicitis. Neutral Athletes B won the mixed-gender medley relay. The U.S., which broke the world record at the Olympics, missed the world final after placing 10th in the preliminary heats. In semifinal action, Jack Alexy broke the American record in the 100m free. He swam 46.81, taking down Caeleb Dressel's record of 46.96 from 2019. China's Pan Zhanle, who won the Olympic title in a world record (46.40), did not make this final after placing 10th overall in the semis. Worlds continue through Sunday with preliminary heats at 10 p.m. ET and finals at 7 a.m., live on Peacock. Thursday's finals are expected to feature Paris Olympic gold medalists Leon Marchand of France in the 200m individual medley and Summer McIntosh of Canada in the 200m fly, plus Katie Ledecky in the 4x200m free relay.
New York Post
24 minutes ago
- New York Post
Olympic champ Laura Dahlmeier dies in climbing accident in Pakistan, official says
German biathlon champion Laura Dahlmeier has died on a mountain peak in northern Pakistan following a climbing accident, and efforts are underway to retrieve her body, a local government spokesman said Wednesday. Dahlmeier, an Olympic gold medalist, was climbing Laila Peak in the Karakoram mountain range on Monday when she was struck by falling rocks. Rescuers on Wednesday confirmed Dalhmeier's death on the mountain, said Faizullah Faraq, a spokesman for the regional Gilgit-Baltistan government. 7 Laura Dahlmeier died on a mountain peak in northern Pakistan following a climbing accident. Pierre Teyssot / Advertisement Her body will be brought to the city of Skardu when it is retrieved by rescuers, Faraq said. Military helicopters were on standby to assist but have been unable to deploy because of bad weather, Faraq said. Climbers including two Americans have been attempting the same ascent done by Dalhmeier to try to join the rescue operation, he said. Authorities launched the rescue mission Monday after receiving a distress signal from Dahlmeier's climbing partner, Marina Eva, who managed to descend to base camp with help from rescuers Tuesday. Advertisement 7 Laura Dahlmeier, German biathlete, holding a bronze medal in 2018. AFP via Getty Images 7 Laura Dahlmeier poses with the gold medal after winning the 2017 IBU World Championships Biathlon Women's 12,5 km Mass start race. AFP via Getty Images German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier offered his condolences to Dahlmeier's parents, writing that she 'was an exceptional sportswoman.' He recalled that he presented her with the highest honor on German sport, the Silver Laurel Leaf, shortly after she won her first Olympic gold medal in 2018. 'Laura Dahlmeier was an ambassador for our country in the world, a role model for peaceful, cheerful and fair coexistence across borders,' he said. Advertisement Dahlmeier was injured at an altitude of about 5,700 meters (18,700 feet) around noon Monday, according to her management team in Germany. German broadcaster ZDF reported she suffered serious injuries in a rockfall. 7 Laura Dahlmeier competes during the Women's 10 km pursuit race during the 2017 IBU World Championships Biathlon. AFP via Getty Images 7 Laura Dahlmeier warms up prior to the women's 7.5 km sprint competition at the biathlon World Cup. AP Dahlmeier won seven gold, three silver and five bronze medals at Biathlon World Championships, along with 20 World Cup races and the overall World Cup in the 2016-17 season, according to her website. Advertisement She won gold medals in the sprint and pursuit races at the Pyeongchang Olympics in 2018 and the bronze medal in the individual competition. 7 Laura Dahlmeier celebrates her victory with teammates in the finish area after the women 4×6 km relay at the FIS Biathlon World Championships. AFP via Getty Images 7 Laura Dahlmeier poses with her six medals after winning the 2017 IBU World Championships Biathlon Women's 12,5 km Mass start race. AFP via Getty Images Dahlmeier ended her biathlon career in 2019, when she was 25. She grew up in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in the German Alps and turned to mountaineering challenges after ending her biathlon career. She had been a state-certified mountain and ski guide since 2023 and volunteered for the Garmisch-Partenkirchen mountain rescue team. Hundreds of climbers try to scale mountains in northern Pakistan every year and accidents are common because of avalanches and sudden weather changes. The region has also been battered by above-normal seasonal rains, triggering flash floods and landslides. Since last week, at least 20 Pakistani tourists have been missing after floodwaters swept them away near the northern district of Chilas.
Fox Sports
24 minutes ago
- Fox Sports
Buffalo Sabres home arena to remain KeyBank Center after reaching 10-year naming rights extension
Associated Press BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Sabres' home arena will continue being called the KeyBank Center after the two sides announced a 10-year naming rights extension on Wednesday. The new deal will kick in next year and run through 2035-36. The Cleveland-based bank has a large regional presence in Buffalo, and took over the downtown arena's naming rights after acquiring First Niagara Bank in 2016. As part of the extension, the bank's name will be featured on the Sabres' helmets for away games starting this season. The arena is undergoing a series of long-needed renovations since first opening in 1996. Last year, the Sabres replaced the roof and installed a new video scoreboard over center ice. The next series of renovations are expected to address upgrading the seats and fan amenities. The Sabres' control the building, which is also home to the three-time defending National Lacrosse League champion Bandits, and have placed an emphasis on adding more events since Pete Guelli took over as the team's chief operating officer last year. In November, the arena will host one of Paul McCartney's 20 North American tour stops, as well as host a pre-Olympic U.S. vs. Canada women's hockey Rivalry Series game. The Sabres, meanwhile, have been struggling on the ice with the team in the midst of an NHL-record 14-season playoff drought. ___ AP NHL: in this topic
