Willie Kirk

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Willie Kirk
Chelsea FC Women v Everton FC Women, 12 September 2021 (24).jpg
Kirk in September 2021, managing Everton
Personal information
Date of birth (1978-06-07) 7 June 1978 (age 46) [1]
Place of birth Edinburgh, Scotland
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
Preston Athletic
Managerial career
2010–2014 Hibernian
2014–2015 Preston Athletic (men)
2015–2018 Bristol City
2018 Manchester United (assistant)
2018–2021 Everton
2022–2024 Leicester City
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Willie Kirk (born 7 June 1978) is a Scottish football manager who was most recently the manager of Women's Super League club Leicester City.

Contents

Playing career

Kirk played semi-professional football for Pumpherston FC, Whitburn FC, and Preston Athletic, later agreeing to manage the team in the 2014–15 Lowland Football League season. [2]

Managerial career

Livingston FC Academy

Kirk began his managerial career at Livingston as an assistant academy coach for the club's under-14 team in October 2006. He advanced to head coach of the under-14 team and took over head coaching position for the next age group up to the under-17 team. [1]

Hibernian

In March 2009, Kirk joined the academy coaching staff at Hibernian to coach the under-17 team. Ultimately, Kirk earned the head coaching position of Hibernian L.F.C. [1] His first season in charge of Hibernian led to winning the 2010 Scottish Cup. [3] Kirk followed up the 2010 Cup title by winning Scottish League Cup title, finishing as runners-up in the Scottish Cup, and third position in the table. The 2013 season saw Hibernian finishing second and Kirk earning Scottish Women's Football Manager of the Year award. [3]

Bristol City

In April 2015, Kirk made the move to England and was appointed manager of Bristol City competing in the FA WSL 1. [3] After a rough season, Bristol City was relegated to WSL 2, finishing in last place after the 2015 season. The relegation was short lived, as Kirk's Bristol City rallied in the WSL 2 finishing second during the WSL season and earned promotion back to the FA WSL 1. [4] Kirk's subsequent seasons would see back-to-back eighth place finishes, maintaining safety in the women's top flight. [5]

Manchester United

In June 2018, Kirk joined the coaching staff at the newly formed Manchester United as an assistant to Casey Stoney. [6]

Everton

In December 2018, Kirk was appointed manager of Everton after being offered the number one position of a top flight team. [7] His debut as manager of the Blues was a victory, defeating rivals Liverpool 2–1. [8] On 16 October 2021, Kirk left his position. [9]

Leicester City

In July 2022, Kirk was appointed as director of football at Leicester City. [10] On 3 November 2022, Kirk was appointed as manager, following the departure of Lydia Bedford. [11] On 8 March 2024, it was reported that Leicester had suspended Kirk and launched an investigation into an alleged relationship between him and one of the players. [12] [13] [14] The investigation prompted several other managers in women's football to comment that relationships between managers and players are inappropriate. [15] [16] [17] On 28 March 2024, Leicester sacked Kirk as a result of the investigation having found that he had "breached the team's code of conduct to a degree that makes his position untenable". [18] [19] [20]

Honours

Hibernian Women

Individual

References

  1. 1 2 3 O'Neill, Jen (28 January 2019). "In Conversation: Everton Ladies' Manager Willie Kirk chats openly about Manchester United, the pull of being the boss & more…". She Kicks . Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  2. ↑ "New boss Willie Kirk hopes to keep Preston Athletic in Lowland League". East Lothian Courier. 9 October 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Plant, Michael (28 June 2018). "Kirk's Journey to United". Manchester United F.C. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  4. ↑ "Kirk: I Couldn't Turn Down Everton Opportunity". Everton F.C. 2 December 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  5. ↑ "Everton Ladies Coaching Staff". Everton F.C. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  6. ↑ Hislop, John (29 June 2018). "Former Hibs' manager Willie Kirk joins Manchester United". The Edinburgh Reporter. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  7. ↑ "Willie Kirk Appointed New Ladies Manager". Everton F.C. 1 December 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  8. ↑ "Willie Kirk leading the Everton revolution". The FA. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  9. ↑ "Club Statement: Willie Kirk". Everton F.C. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  10. ↑ "LCFC Women Appoint Willie Kirk As Director Of Football, Women & Girls". Leicester City F.C.
  11. ↑ "Leicester: Willie Kirk replaces Lydia Bedford as Foxes boss". BBC Sport. 3 November 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  12. ↑ Wrack, Suzanne (8 March 2024). "Leicester Women investigate manager Willie Kirk over alleged player relationship". The Guardian . Archived from the original on 8 March 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  13. ↑ Garry, Tom (8 March 2024). "Leicester Women suspend manager Willie Kirk over alleged relationship with player". The Daily Telegraph . Archived from the original on 8 March 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  14. ↑ Allnutt, Tom (28 March 2024). "Leicester women's manager 'accused of having relationship with player'" . The Times . Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  15. ↑ Taylor, Louise (26 March 2024). "Sarina Wiegman believes coach-player relationships are 'very inappropriate'". The Guardian . Archived from the original on 27 March 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  16. ↑ de Roché, Art; Harpur, Charlotte (14 March 2024). "WSL managers say coaches who have relationships with their players should be sacked". The Athletic . Archived from the original on 14 March 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  17. ↑ "Aston Villa boss Carla Ward says player-coach relationships are 'sackable offences'". Archived from the original on 28 March 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  18. ↑ Wrack, Suzanne (28 March 2024). "Leicester sack Willie Kirk after investigation into alleged relationship with player". The Guardian . Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  19. ↑ "Leicester sack Kirk after relationship allegation". BBC Sport . 28 March 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  20. ↑ "Willie Kirk sacked by Leicester City Women after disciplinary process finds breach of code of conduct". Sky Sports . 28 March 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
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