Anna Signeul
Encyclopedia
Anna Signeul is a Swedish
former football player, who has been the national coach of the Scotland
women's team since March 2005.
, Sweden
and enjoyed participating in many sports as a child. As a supporter of IFK Göteborg
, she drifted towards football and joined local club Falu BS. While still a teenager, she joined IK Brage
before spending the majority of her playing career at Strömsbro IF
. In total, Signeul made 240 appearances in the Damallsvenskan
, the highest tier of Swedish women's football. Although called up to several Sweden
national squads, she was never capped for her country as a player.
, and from 1996 worked with the Swedish Football Association
as head of the national women's teams at youth level. Under Signeul's tutelage, Sweden came third in the 1998 UEFA Women's Under-18 Championship before winning the competition the following year.
In March 2005, Signeul was appointed as National Coach of the Scotland women's team, replacing the outgoing Vera Pauw
. Her first major achievement was leading the country to a qualification play-off for UEFA Women's Euro 2009 which they lost on away goals
to Russia
. She has also led Scotland to an all-time high of 23 in the FIFA Women's World Rankings
.
In addition to her position as National Coach, Signeul also has a wider remit in charge of developing the women's game at all levels in Scotland.
Pictures:
Anna Signeul with the two player escorts at the Scotland Finland Match at Tyncastle 21st September 2011
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
former football player, who has been the national coach of the Scotland
Scotland women's national football team
The Scotland women's national football team represents Scotland in international women's football. They have yet to qualify for the final stages of the World Cup or European Championships and are currently ranked 23rd in the world and 14th in Europe....
women's team since March 2005.
Playing career
Signeul grew up in the town of FalunFalun
Falun is a city and the seat of Falun Municipality in Dalarna County, Sweden, with 36,447 inhabitants in 2005. It is also the capital of Dalarna County...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and enjoyed participating in many sports as a child. As a supporter of IFK Göteborg
IFK Göteborg
IFK Göteborg is a Swedish professional football club based in Gothenburg. Founded in 1904, the club has won 18 national championship titles, five national cup titles, and two UEFA Cups....
, she drifted towards football and joined local club Falu BS. While still a teenager, she joined IK Brage
IK Brage
IK Brage is a Swedish football club located in Borlänge. The club, formed 1925, has played 18 seasons in the highest Swedish league, Allsvenskan. The 2010 season will be played in the second highest Swedish league, Superettan...
before spending the majority of her playing career at Strömsbro IF
Strömsbro IF
Strömsbro IF is a Swedish football club located in Gävle.-Background:Strömsbro IF currently plays in Division 4 Gestrikland which is the sixth tier of Swedish football. They play their home matches at the Testebovallens IP in Gävle....
. In total, Signeul made 240 appearances in the Damallsvenskan
Damallsvenskan
The Damallsvenskan, Swedish for ladies' all-Swedish, is the highest division of women's football in Sweden. It is also referred as to the women's Allsvenskan, this term being used alone to refer to the men's division....
, the highest tier of Swedish women's football. Although called up to several Sweden
Sweden women's national football team
Sweden women's national football team are a football team officially representing Sweden in women's football. They won the unofficial European Championships in 1984, a success the team has not managed to repeat, it has however won one World Cup-silver as well as three European Cup-silvers...
national squads, she was never capped for her country as a player.
Coaching career
Signeul began her coaching career at the age of 21 while still a player at IK Brage. She coached at club level including spells at Strömsbro IF and Tyresö FFTyresö FF
For the club's ladies team, see Tyresö FF .Tyresö FF is a Swedish football club located in Tyresö which is a municipality in Stockholm County in east central Sweden.-Background:...
, and from 1996 worked with the Swedish Football Association
Swedish Football Association
The Swedish Football Association is the governing body of football in Sweden. It organises the football leagues — Allsvenskan for men and Damallsvenskan for women — and the men's and women's national teams. It is based in Solna and is a founding member of both FIFA and UEFA...
as head of the national women's teams at youth level. Under Signeul's tutelage, Sweden came third in the 1998 UEFA Women's Under-18 Championship before winning the competition the following year.
In March 2005, Signeul was appointed as National Coach of the Scotland women's team, replacing the outgoing Vera Pauw
Vera Pauw
Vera Pauw is a Dutch football coach and former player.-Playing career:Pauw played 89 international matches for the Netherlands, but never qualified for the final tournament of a World Cup or European Championship...
. Her first major achievement was leading the country to a qualification play-off for UEFA Women's Euro 2009 which they lost on away goals
Away goals rule
The away goals rule is a method of breaking ties in association football and other sports when teams play each other twice, once at each team's home ground. By the away goals rule, the team that has scored more goals "away from home" will win if scores are otherwise equal...
to Russia
Russia women's national football team
The Russia women's national football team represents Russia in international women's football. The team is controlled by the Football Union of Russia and affiliated with UEFA...
. She has also led Scotland to an all-time high of 23 in the FIFA Women's World Rankings
FIFA Women's World Rankings
The FIFA Women's World Rankings for football were introduced in 2003, with the first rankings published in March of that year, as a follow-on to the existing FIFA World Rankings for men...
.
In addition to her position as National Coach, Signeul also has a wider remit in charge of developing the women's game at all levels in Scotland.
Pictures:
Anna Signeul with the two player escorts at the Scotland Finland Match at Tyncastle 21st September 2011