A highly respected international football coach and Olympic gold medallist, Bev Priestman is recognised for her transformative leadership and impact on women’s football across multiple continents.
Born in Consett, England, Priestman developed her deep connection to football from an early age, shaped by the strong work ethic and grounded values of her hometown. This “blue-collar” mentality has become a defining element of her coaching philosophy, influencing the culture she builds within every team she leads.
Priestman’s early career was forged through youth development and high-performance pathways, where she quickly established a reputation for identifying and nurturing emerging talent. At just 26, she took on a significant leadership role as Head of Football Development at New Zealand Football, playing a key part in strengthening the country’s talent pathway and long-term player development systems.
Her international coaching journey soon expanded, taking her to the global stage with roles across elite women’s football programmes. As an assistant coach with the England Lionesses, she contributed to their fourth-place finish at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, working within one of Europe’s most successful teams.
In 2020, Priestman reached a defining milestone when she was appointed head coach of the Canadian Women’s National Team. Just nine months into the role, she led the squad to Olympic gold at the Tokyo 2020 Games, becoming the youngest coach at the tournament to do so. This achievement, along with her broader influence on the international game, earned her global recognition, including being named IFFHS Women’s World Best National Coach in 2021 and receiving multiple FIFA Best Coach nominations.
Across more than 15 years in high-performance sport, Priestman’s career has spanned three continents and includes involvement in four FIFA Women’s World Cups and three Olympic Games. Her return to New Zealand as head coach of the Wellington Phoenix women’s team marked another historic chapter, guiding the side to an A-League Grand Final in a landmark season — the first time a New Zealand team, men’s or women’s, had reached that stage.
Known for her empowering leadership style, Priestman builds environments centred on trust, accountability and growth. Her work has consistently elevated team performance while fostering individual development, making her one of the most influential figures in modern women’s football.
