Celtic Women appoint Elena Sadiku as first female manager to replace Fran Alonso

Celtic Women’s team have appointed their first ever female manager as they replace former boss Fran Alonso.

The Hoops have confirmed the appointment of Swedish coach Elena Sadiku to the post vacated by the Spaniard last month.

The 30-year-old joins from Everton’s academy on a two and a half year deal.

Caretaker manager David Haley will remain at the club as assistant manager to Sadiku.

A former professional footballer with FC Rosengård, Kristianstad DFF, Eskilstuna United and Hammarby IF, Sadiku also represented Sweden at various youth age groups before she was forced to retire from football at the age of only 23 through injury.

🆕 We are delighted to announce the appointment of new manager Elena Sadiku!

The Swede becomes #CelticFC’s first ever female head coach 🤝

Welcome to Celtic, @elenasadiku! 🍀
— Celtic FC Women (@CelticFCWomen) January 12, 2024

After hanging up her boots she set up the Girls Academy structure at Hammarby IF before coaching the Swedish champions at FC Rosengård and gaining experience in the UEFA Women’s Champions League during her time at Fortuna Hjørring in Denmark.

Celtic confirmed the appointment on Friday, and the Swede says is delighted to take up the role and is excited to get started.

She said: “This is such a great day for me and my family, to join a club of Celtic’s standing and stature at such an exciting time for our women’s team.

‘It is a real honour to be given this wonderful opportunity and I can’t wait to get started, particularly with so many important games coming up.

“The league in Scotland has really developed in the last few years and I’ve seen that the team at Celtic have had great success.

“My role now is to continue this, working for and with the players to achieve greater success in terms of the league and European competitions in particular.

“I also relish the chance to positively develop and grow the wider structure and environment across all our teams and academy.”

“I will bring passion, energy and dedication to this role and I can’t wait to get started.”

After narrowly missing out on the 22/23 title to Glasgow City in the last minutes of the season, they currently sit second in the table, three points behind Rangers, after 16 games this campaign.

They began the defence of their Scottish Cup crown with a 7-0 win over Ayr United at the weekend.

Alonso left at the end of December to take up a job with Houston dash in America.