Brent Hills has been appointed Head of Women’s Elite Development by The FA, while Marieanne Spacey will take up the role of Assistant Women’s Coach and Coach Developer.
Hills, the former Under-23 Head Coach and senior team assistant who took charge of England’s opening World Cup 2015 qualifiers, will be responsible for producing a clear pathway for elite female players.
He will oversee the England teams at U19, U17 and U15 level as well as the female Centre of Excellence programme and will report into Dan Ashworth, The FA’s Director of Elite Development.
“Mark Sampson, Brent and Marieanne are all really excited by the prospect of working together.”
Sir Trevor Brooking
Hills’ task is to set out a vision and philosophy for the women’s game that will allow us to produce world-class players and coaches to ensure England teams can regularly compete on the world stage.
He said of his new role: "I am delighted to be taking the post of Head of Women’s Elite Development.
"My experience in long-term player development and international coaching will help me work with all those in elite player development to improve the quality and quantity of female international players over time.
"I am very much looking forward to working with the new Senior Head Coach Mark Sampson and his international staff in order to support the senior squad."
This appointment is the first of many in a new elite women’s unit. The second sees former England striker Spacey become Assistant Women’s Coach and Coach Developer.
As well as working alongside Sampson, Spacey will take charge of the Under-23 team and will focus on coach development to help increase the number of female coaches at the highest level and support coach development across the women’s game.
Spacey, who scored 28 goals in 91 internationals, said: "This is a huge opportunity for me.
"I think my various roles are really important for the future of women’s football in this country and I am really looking forward to the challenge.
"The prospect of working with two different England squads really excites me, as does helping any female player that wants to become a better coach, because we need more female role models across the game."
Ashworth added: "I’m delighted that Brent and Marieanne have accepted their roles.
"Brent has extensive international experience both at youth and senior level and he has played a critical role in the women’s game for a number of years.
"His new role is a massive one long-term and it needs somebody who really understands the women’s game and we believe Brent is the right person to meet the demands.
"Marieanne is a former England player who has come up through our coaching system, she was an FA Skills Coach and she has worked a lot on the coach education side of the women’s game."
FA Director of Football Development Sir Trevor Brooking said: "Mark, Brent and Marieanne have already spoken and they are all extremely excited by the prospect of working together.
"We believe they will complement each other and mix really well to take the game forward at every level and build on the good work that has gone before."
Hills and Spacey will begin their new roles in January 2014.
