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Willie Kirk

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Willie Kirk
Kirk in September 2021, managing Everton
Personal information
Date of birth (1978-06-07) 7 June 1978 (age 46)[1]
Place of birth Edinburgh, Scotland
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Preston Athletic
Managerial career
2010–2014 Hibernian
2014–2015 Preston Athletic (men)
2015–2018 Bristol City
2018 Manchester United (assistant)
2018–2021 Everton
2022–2024 Leicester City
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Willie Kirk (born 7 June 1978) is a Scottish football manager and former player who was most recently the manager of Women's Super League club Leicester City.

Playing career

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Kirk played non-League football for Preston Athletic and agreed to manage the team in the 2014–15 Lowland Football League season.[2]

Managerial career

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Livingston FC Academy

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Kirk began his managerial career at Livingston as an assistant academy coach for the club's under-14 team in October 2006. He advanced to head coach of the under-14 team and took over head coaching position for the next age group up to the under-17 team.[1]

Hibernian

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In March 2009, Kirk joined the academy coaching staff at Hibernian to coach the under-17 team. Ultimately, Kirk earned the head coaching position of Hibernian L.F.C.[1] His first season in charge of Hibernian led to winning the 2010 Scottish Cup.[3] Kirk followed up the 2010 Cup title by winning Scottish League Cup title, finishing as runners-up in the Scottish Cup, and third position in the table. The 2013 season saw Hibernian finishing second and Kirk earning Scottish Women's Football Manager of the Year award.[3]

Bristol City

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In April 2015, Kirk made the move to England and was appointed manager of Bristol City competing in the FA WSL 1.[3] After a rough season, Bristol City was relegated to WSL 2, finishing in last place after the 2015 season. The relegation was short lived, as Kirk's Bristol City rallied in the WSL 2 finishing second during the WSL season and earned promotion back to the FA WSL 1.[4] Kirk's subsequent seasons would see back-to-back eighth place finishes, maintaining safety in the women's top flight.[5]

Manchester United

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In June 2018, Kirk joined the coaching staff at the newly formed Manchester United as an assistant to Casey Stoney.[6]

Everton

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In December 2018, Kirk was appointed manager of Everton after being offered the number one position of a top flight team.[7] His debut as manager of the Blues was a victory, defeating rivals Liverpool 2–1.[8] On 16 October 2021, Kirk left his position.[9]

Leicester City

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In July 2022, Kirk was appointed as director of football at Leicester City.[10] On 3 November 2022, Kirk was appointed as manager, following the departure of Lydia Bedford.[11] On 8 March 2024, it was reported that Leicester had suspended Kirk and launched an investigation into an alleged relationship between him and one of the players.[12][13][14] The investigation prompted several other managers in women's football to comment that relationships between managers and players are inappropriate.[15][16][17] On 28 March 2024, Leicester sacked Kirk as a result of the investigation having found that he had "breached the team's code of conduct to a degree that makes his position untenable".[18][19][20]

Executive career

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In July 2022, Kirk joined Women's Super League club Leicester City as their first-ever director of football for both the first team and the academy.[10]

Honours

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Hibernian Women

Individual

References

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  1. ^ a b c O'Neill, Jen (28 January 2019). "In Conversation: Everton Ladies' Manager Willie Kirk chats openly about Manchester United, the pull of being the boss & more…". She Kicks. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  2. ^ "New boss Willie Kirk hopes to keep Preston Athletic in Lowland League". East Lothian Courier. 9 October 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d e Plant, Michael (28 June 2018). "Kirk's Journey to United". Manchester United F.C. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  4. ^ "Kirk: I Couldn't Turn Down Everton Opportunity". Everton F.C. 2 December 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  5. ^ "Everton Ladies Coaching Staff". Everton F.C. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  6. ^ Hislop, John (29 June 2018). "Former Hibs' manager Willie Kirk joins Manchester United". The Edinburgh Reporter. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  7. ^ "Willie Kirk Appointed New Ladies Manager". Everton F.C. 1 December 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  8. ^ "Willie Kirk leading the Everton revolution". The FA. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  9. ^ "Club Statement: Willie Kirk". Everton F.C. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  10. ^ a b "LCFC Women Appoint Willie Kirk As Director Of Football, Women & Girls". Leicester City F.C.
  11. ^ "Leicester: Willie Kirk replaces Lydia Bedford as Foxes boss". BBC Sport. 3 November 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  12. ^ Wrack, Suzanne (8 March 2024). "Leicester Women investigate manager Willie Kirk over alleged player relationship". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 8 March 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  13. ^ Garry, Tom (8 March 2024). "Leicester Women suspend manager Willie Kirk over alleged relationship with player". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 8 March 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  14. ^ Allnutt, Tom (28 March 2024). "Leicester women's manager 'accused of having relationship with player'". The Times. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  15. ^ Taylor, Louise (26 March 2024). "Sarina Wiegman believes coach-player relationships are 'very inappropriate'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 27 March 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  16. ^ de Roché, Art; Harpur, Charlotte (14 March 2024). "WSL managers say coaches who have relationships with their players should be sacked". The Athletic. Archived from the original on 14 March 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  17. ^ "Aston Villa boss Carla Ward says player-coach relationships are 'sackable offences'". Archived from the original on 28 March 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  18. ^ Wrack, Suzanne (28 March 2024). "Leicester sack Willie Kirk after investigation into alleged relationship with player". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  19. ^ "Leicester sack Kirk after relationship allegation". BBC Sport. 28 March 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
  20. ^ "Willie Kirk sacked by Leicester City Women after disciplinary process finds breach of code of conduct". Sky Sports. 28 March 2024. Retrieved 28 March 2024.
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