English Football League Two side Forest Green Rovers has named Hannah Dingley as its new first-team caretaker manager, making her the first woman to manage a men’s professional team in English football.
The League Two side sacked their previous manager Duncan Ferguson on Tuesday after just six months in charge, before appointing Dingley as the temporary head coach of the first team, where she will be taking charge of her first game on July 5 against Melksham Town.
Dingley first joined Forest Green Rovers in 2019 to take care of the academy and remains the only woman to manage a men’s English Football League academy team. Additionally, Dingley, who was born and raised in Carmarthenshire, also initiated the club’s girls academy which launched in 2021.
Commenting on her appointment as the new Forest Green Rovers head coach, Dingley said: “I’m really excited for this next step of my career. Pre-season has just begun, and the full season kicks off very soon. It’s an exciting time in football. I am grateful for the opportunity to step up and lead such a progressive and forward-thinking club.”
Meanwhile, Forest Green Rovers’ chairman, Dale Vince added: “Hannah was the natural choice for us to be first team interim head coach — she’s done a fantastic job leading our academy and is well aligned with the values of the club. It’s perhaps telling for the men’s game that in making this appointment on merit, we’ll break new ground – and Hannah will be the first female head coach in English [men’s] football.”
In other football news, Christian Pulisic is joining AC Milan.
