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Tuesday, October 21, 2025

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England confirm Development coaches

Emma Coates will continue to lead the WU23s for the 2025-26 campaign, alongside assistant coach Gemma Davies.

The duo head into their third season working together and will continue to help develop players ready for the senior squad, with the

likes of Aggie Beever-Jones, Michelle Agyemang and Lucia Kendall all making the move across after developing under Coates and

Davies.

They will be joined by former England international Izzy Christiansen, who will serve as a second assistant coach for the WU23s.

Christiansen was capped 31 times and holds the legacy number 189, bringing a wealth of player and coaching experience to the role.

She will work with the Young Lionesses in addition to her role as head coach of Manchester City’s women’s U21s side, City Next Gen, and alongside her media duties with Sky Sports.

Meanwhile, the WU19s will again be led by Lauren Smith as they bid to qualify for the 2026 UEFA Women’s Under-19 EURO, having already secured qualification for next year’s FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup. Smith will be joined by a new assistant coach, with John Griffiths departing The FA after eleven years of service as a national coach for an exciting new opportunity abroad.

Former Aston Villa captain Kerri Welsh was confirmed as the new head coach of the WU17s earlier this summer. She will be assisted by Lucy Faraday as they aim to qualify for the UEFA Women’s Under-17 EURO in May, and the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup next October. The WU17s came through round one of qualifying for the EUROs with flying colours, winning three games out of three to top the group.

At the start of the pathway – where the focus is on early exposure to the England environment – John Salomon will continue to lead the WU16s and WU15s, with Jemma Entwistle and Sam Griffiths assisting each age group, respectively.

Gavin Step, Interim Women’s Technical Director at The FA, said: “There’s such a sense of excitement around the England pathway at the moment, with so many talented players developing across every age group. Great players need great coaches, and we’re really pleased to have such a brilliant team developing the next generation of Lionesses.

“I’m grateful to John Griffiths for his outstanding eleven years of service and the legacy he leaves behind, having helped develop several players who went on to become back-to-back European champions. And I’m delighted to welcome Izzy Christiansen to the WU23s, which is a very exciting appointment. Izzy brings a unique perspective having been in the shoes of the young players she will now guide and support. I wish all our coaches and players every success in the season ahead.”

England WU23s

Head coach: Emma Coates

Assistant coach: Gemma Davies

Assistant coach: Izzy Christiansen

Goalkeeping coach: Wayne Brown

England WU19s

Head coach: Lauren Smith

Assistant coach: TBC

Goalkeeping coach: Tom Pressman

England WU17s

Head coach: Kerri Welsh             

Assistant coach: Lucy Faraday

Goalkeeping coach: Andy Johnston

England WU16s

Head coach: John Salomon

Assistant coach: Jemma Entwistle

Goalkeeping coach: Carl Kennedy

England WU15s

Head coach: John Salomon

Assistant coach: Sam Griffiths

Goalkeeping coach: Harry Watson