It will be coach by committee for the Canadian women’s soccer team’s upcoming friendly with Spain, in the absence of suspended head coach Bev Priestman.
Former Canadian international Diana Matheson joins returning assistant coaches Andy Spence, Jen Herst and Neil Wood in the coaching ensemble for the Oct. 25 game in Almendralejo, Spain
Matheson, co-founder of the fledgling Northern Super League, is serving in an interim team support role, “providing leadership and serving as a resource for both staff and players.”
The staff will also include Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite head coach Katie Collar, as an interim technical assistant, and interim performance analyst Maryse Bard-Martel.
Canada Soccer says the interim coaching staff “will support the team on a collective basis for the October window.”
Priestman was handed a one-year suspension from soccer by FIFA in the wake of the Paris Olympic drone-spying scandal.
Assistant coach Jasmine Mander and analyst Joseph Lombardi are also serving one-year bans after New Zealand’s Olympic Committee filed a complaint with the International Olympic Committee’s integrity unit, alleging drones were flown over a pair of pre-tournament practice sessions.
Canada Soccer CEO Kevin Blue has commissioned an independent external investigation into the drone scandal.
When he receives that report, likely before year’s end, he will need to decide whether Priestman will return to her role after her suspension or be fired and replaced.
Priestman still being paid
Spence, Herst and Wood have been given strict instructions on the use of drones.
“That type of behaviour is not something that will be part of the new Canada Soccer,” Blue told CBC Sports. “Everybody’s objective is to turn the page.”
Priestman is still being paid by Canada Soccer pending an independent review into the scandal by Sonia Regenbogen from the law firm of Mathews, Dinsdale & Clark.
The 40-year-old Matheson, a cerebral attacker, won 206 caps for Canada before retiring and leading the charge for a domestic professional women’s league.
The 21-woman Canadian squad is filled with veterans, including captain Jessie Fleming, goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan, defenders Kadeisha Buchanan, Ashley Lawrence and Shelina Zadorsky and forwards Janine Beckie, Jordyn Huitema, Adriana Leon, Nichelle Prince and Deanne Rose.
It also includes young midfielders Olivia Smith, who is turning heads with Liverpool in England, and Simi Awujo, now with Manchester United.
Missing through injury are Quinn (Seattle Reign) Sydney Collins (North Carolina Courage) and Jayde Riviere (Manchester United).
It marks the first game for the Canadian women since Aug. 3 when they lost to Germany in a penalty shootout at the Paris Olympics. Spence ran the team in France in Priestman’s absence.
Canada managed to reach the Olympic knockout round despite being docked six points for the spying scandal, which also saw Canada Soccer fined 200,000 Swiss francs ($318,700).
The Canadian women are ranked sixth in the world while Spain, the reigning World Cup champion, is No. 3.
Canada and Spain have met three times before, with Spain holding a 2-0-1 edge.
Canada lost 1-0 in their most recent match, at the Arnold Clark Cup in February 2022 in Wolverhampton, England. Before that, they played to a scoreless draw in May 2019 in Logrono, Spain, and Spain won 1-0 in March 2017 in Portugal.
Canada roster
Goalkeepers: Sabrina D’Angelo, Aston Villa (England); Lysianne Proulx, Juventus (Italy); Kailen Sheridan, San Diego Wave (NWSL).
Defenders: Kadeisha Buchanan, Chelsea (England); Gabrielle Carle, Washington Spirit (NWSL); Vanessa Gilles, Olympique Lyonnais (France); Ashley Lawrence, Chelsea (England); Jade Rose, Harvard University (NCAA); Shelina Zadorsky, West Ham United (England).
Midfielders: Simi Awujo, Manchester United (England); Jessie Fleming, Portland Thorns (NWSL); Julia Grosso, Chicago Red Stars (NWSL); Emma Regan, HB Koge (Denmark).
Midfielder/Forward: Olivia Smith, Liverpool (England).
Forwards: Janine Beckie, Racing Louisville (NWSL); Jordyn Huitema, Seattle Reign FC (NWSL); Cloe Lacasse, Utah Royals FC (NWSL); Adriana Leon 5/8 ENG / Aston Villa (England); Nichelle Prince, Kansas City Current (NWSL); Deanne Rose, Leicester City (England); Evelyne Viens, AS Roma (Italy).
