Latest news with #Women'sSuperLeague
New York Times
a few seconds ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Manchester United Women's analyst Lawrence Shamieh set to join Tottenham
Manchester United Women's analyst Lawrence Shamieh is set to join Tottenham Hotspur in a reunion with new head coach Martin Ho. Shamieh has been with United since October 2022 when he joined from Tottenham, where he was the lead performance analyst for the women's team from 2021 to 2022. Upon joining United in the same role, Shamieh became coach analyst in February 2025, where he has been was part of the team's scouting and recruitment set-up as well as the tactical analysis. Advertisement Shamieh's time at United overlapped with Ho, who was United's assistant coach from February 2020 to June 2023. According to sources familiar with the situation, speaking on the condition of anonymity, Shamieh is in the process of leaving his role at United to re-join Tottenham. Ho was appointed Tottenham head coach earlier this month. Previously the head coach of Norwegian side SK Brann, he was formerly an assistant at both Everton and United. He also spent a spell as the head coach of Liverpool's Under-21 women's team. Ho replaced Robert Vilahamn, who departed the club after two years last month on the same weekend that Ange Postecoglou was sacked by the men's side. If Spurs can get the deal over the line, this is a very savvy appointment and testament to the mission that the club are embarking on in their new era under Ho. Shamieh is regarded among United's coaching staff and players, with many considering him one of the most important members of Marc Skinner's coaching staff when it came to scouting and tactical analysis. For United, this is a big loss. Shamieh is the second staff departure for United this summer, with assistant Charlotte Healy taking over as head coach of Bristol City. Shamieh represents the next step in Tottenham's mission to rebuild after a disappointing Women's Super League season in which they finished the season on a 10-game winless run from January, recording an 11th-place WSL finish, just one place from the foot of the table and relegation. Vilahamn led Spurs to a top-six Women's Super League (WSL) finish and the club's first-ever FA Cup final, which they lost to Manchester United, in the 2023-24 campaign. In the proceeding summer, the team saw the departures of head of women's analysis and recruitment Zoe Mattheson (formally Matthews) and women's performance analyst Alexander Adams, who joined NWSL's Gotham FC and Leicester City men's team respectively. Shamieh's potential appointment would crucially help to recover from those departures.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Switzerland's stadium gamble pays off at Euro 2025 with sold-out crowds and electric atmospheres
Walking along the west side of St Jakob-Park, you would be mistaken for thinking the biggest stadium at Euro 2025 is bubble-wrapped, padded in jumbo squares of opaque gauze, bracing for a battle. In many ways, it is. Being inside Basel's 34,250-capacity arena is to have your insides shake, the guttural roars rebounding off each other in this intimate, sunset-trapped space. This was the case for the opening match of the European Championship, between hosts Switzerland and Group A opponents Norway, again for Germany's group-stage win against Denmark, and once again for Germany's stunning quarter-final victory against France. However, not everyone was expecting such raucous atmospheres before the tournament began. When Switzerland's initial host bid was lodged, there were various doubts, but none more so than about stadium size. Would awarding the tournament to Switzerland, whose proposed stadiums boast an average capacity of 20,000, be a backwards step? When the tournament was held in England three years earlier, the average capacity the stadiums was more than 33,000. 'At one point, people in UEFA even told us to withdraw our bid,' the former Swiss Football Association's head of women's and girls' Tatjana Haenni told The Athletic in June. ''Your chances are so small. Why don't you withdraw? England was such a success, we cannot go to a small country now'.' At risk of spoiling nothing, Switzerland met doubts over stadium size with a convincing argument of growth within Switzerland and beyond, supplementing the ecosystem of women's football as opposed to perpetuating the accepted hierarchy. Their bid defeated those from Poland, France and a joint-Nordic bid of Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. Switzerland's bid team argued that it was better to be full in small stadiums 90 per cent of the time rather than full in big stadiums 50 per cent of the time. While England's average capacity for the 2022 tournament was much higher, for example, the discrepancy between stadium sizes and attendances is arresting. England's opening Euro 2022 match against Austria at Old Trafford and their final at Wembley Stadium against Germany brought record crowds (68,871 and 87,192). Yet, just 9,000 of St Mary's 31,000 seats were full for Norway's 4-1 win against Northern Ireland in Southampton, while the 30,500-capacity MK Stadium was just over half full for Spain's 4-1 triumph over Finland. Manchester City's Joie Stadium, which typically holds 7,000 for Manchester City Women's Super League games, had its capacity slashed to 4,400 due to two standing-only ends not complying with UEFA regulations. Iceland midfielder Gunnhildur Yrsa Jonsdottir told reporters at the time: 'I'm not going to lie, when we first saw that it was there, it was a disappointment. But then we can't change that, it is what it is. I hope they learn from it.' Switzerland maintained that an average capacity of 20,000 was neither overly ambitious nor too modest, but rather perfectly matched the moment in which women's football found itself. In a way, it was a litmus test: women's football was growing, but how much of that was in pockets or across the board? If the group stage is anything to go by, it seems the game is increasing in popularity across Europe. According to UEFA, Euro 2025's group stage had the highest cumulative attendance figure (461,582) of a Women's European Championship, with 22 of 24 matches sold out. The highest attendance at a group-stage match not involving the host nation was broken twice, first with the 29,520 who attended Spain's 5-0 win against Portugal in Bern, then by the 34,165 who watched Germany defeat Denmark 2-1 in Basel. The average attendance of the group stage in total was 19,233 per match, just under the tournament's average capacity. The numbers tell only part of the story. In St Gallen for Wales' second match against France, the compact atmosphere of the 19,000-capacity Kybunpark made for a raucous affair, the proximity of the stands to the pitch creating a cavern of noise. There has been an element of good fortune, too. The Athletic attended Portugal's final group-stage match against Belgium in Sion's Stade de Tourbillon, the tournament's smallest stadium (7,750). If the ground was any bigger, it might have devoured this match into silence. Belgium were out and Portugal needed a minor miracle. Switzerland fans, along with a sprinkling of Wales fans, buffered the gaps. It was more of the same in Norway's group-stage win against Finland. In a stadium double the size, it was not difficult to imagine the atmosphere falling flat, of empty seats and negative videos circling online. The reverse could also have been problematic: had Switzerland's home match with Iceland or Spain against Portugal taken place in Sion, there would likely have been an outcry over a lack of capacity. An early worry percolating among some high-ranking officials in UEFA was a potential drop-off in attendances, particularly if the hosts went out early. Instead, the quarter-finals shattered more records: 34,128 watched Germany's victory over France, with an unprecedented 112,535 attending the four quarter-finals in total. As the tournament has progressed and attendance records have continued to break, some critics believe Switzerland underestimated the demand for tickets, particularly from travelling supporters. England's semi-final victory against Italy boasted an attendance of 26,359, with Spain's 1-0 extra-time semi-final victory against Germany watched in front of a sold-out crowd in Zurich's Stadion Letzigrund, breaking another cumulative record: Euro 2025 is already the most-attended tournament in women's Euros history (623,088). With ticket touts and genuine fans alike standing outside, hoisting placards in the air and begging for tickets, a sense of disappointment wafted as the matches kicked off. However, one official in UEFA, who wished to remain anonymous to protect relationships, points to the long-term benefit that sold-out stadiums and increased ticket demand can reap. Previously, the culture at women's football allowed ticket purchase on matchdays. Now, tickets are desired commodities that need to be purchased well in advance, cultivating a reputation as something desirable and meaningful. Equally, the fervour of the group stages and the sold-out arenas — allied with the quality of the teams and games themselves — have played a vital role in creating the sense that this tournament is the hottest ticket in town. Hindsight is a bitter luxury in football, but atmosphere is priceless. Switzerland has cultivated the latter exquisitely. It is proof that potential is now active growth. 'When you're looking at staging any tournament, you want to have a flexible range of stadiums,' Mark Bullingham, the England Football Association's chief executive, said on Thursday. 'Switzerland have done a great job here. They've filled out every stadium apart from two games, which is a great record and they should be proud of that. 'We need to continue to be bolder. I remember when we decided to go to Old Trafford (for the opening game in 2022), a lot of people thought we were a little bit crazy because it was such a big statement at the time, but then we sold it out and that helped set a standard. Here, they've set a brilliant standard of filling every stadium.' This article originally appeared in The Athletic. Women's Soccer, Women's Euros 2025 The Athletic Media Company
New York Times
8 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Switzerland's stadium gamble pays off at Euro 2025 with sold-out crowds and electric atmospheres
Walking along the west side of St Jakob-Park, you would be mistaken for thinking the biggest stadium at Euro 2025 is bubble-wrapped, padded in jumbo squares of opaque gauze, bracing for a battle. In many ways, it is. Being inside Basel's 34,250-capacity arena is to have your insides shake, the guttural roars rebounding off each other in this intimate, sunset-trapped space. Advertisement This was the case for the opening match of the European Championship, between hosts Switzerland and Group A opponents Norway, again for Germany's group-stage win against Denmark, and once again for Germany's stunning quarter-final victory against France. However, not everyone was expecting such raucous atmospheres before the tournament began. When Switzerland's initial host bid was lodged, there were various doubts, but none more so than about stadium size. Would awarding the tournament to Switzerland, whose proposed stadiums boast an average capacity of 20,000, be a backwards step? When the tournament was held in England three years earlier, the average capacity the stadiums was more than 33,000. 'At one point, people in UEFA even told us to withdraw our bid,' the former Swiss Football Association's head of women's and girls' Tatjana Haenni told The Athletic in June. ''Your chances are so small. Why don't you withdraw? England was such a success, we cannot go to a small country now'.' At risk of spoiling nothing, Switzerland met doubts over stadium size with a convincing argument of growth within Switzerland and beyond, supplementing the ecosystem of women's football as opposed to perpetuating the accepted hierarchy. Their bid defeated those from Poland, France and a joint-Nordic bid of Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. Switzerland's bid team argued that it was better to be full in small stadiums 90 per cent of the time rather than full in big stadiums 50 per cent of the time. While England's average capacity for the 2022 tournament was much higher, for example, the discrepancy between stadium sizes and attendances is arresting. England's opening Euro 2022 match against Austria at Old Trafford and their final at Wembley Stadium against Germany brought record crowds (68,871 and 87,192). Advertisement Yet, just 9,000 of St Mary's 31,000 seats were full for Norway's 4-1 win against Northern Ireland in Southampton, while the 30,500-capacity MK Stadium was just over half full for Spain's 4-1 triumph over Finland. Manchester City's Joie Stadium, which typically holds 7,000 for Manchester City Women's Super League games, had its capacity slashed to 4,400 due to two standing-only ends not complying with UEFA regulations. Iceland midfielder Gunnhildur Yrsa Jonsdottir told reporters at the time: 'I'm not going to lie, when we first saw that it was there, it was a disappointment. But then we can't change that, it is what it is. I hope they learn from it.' Switzerland maintained that an average capacity of 20,000 was neither overly ambitious nor too modest, but rather perfectly matched the moment in which women's football found itself. In a way, it was a litmus test: women's football was growing, but how much of that was in pockets or across the board? If the group stage is anything to go by, it seems the game is increasing in popularity across Europe. According to UEFA, Euro 2025's group stage had the highest cumulative attendance figure (461,582) of a Women's European Championship, with 22 of 24 matches sold out. The highest attendance at a group-stage match not involving the host nation was broken twice, first with the 29,520 who attended Spain's 5-0 win against Portugal in Bern, then by the 34,165 who watched Germany defeat Denmark 2-1 in Basel. The average attendance of the group stage in total was 19,233 per match, just under the tournament's average capacity. The numbers tell only part of the story. In St Gallen for Wales' second match against France, the compact atmosphere of the 19,000-capacity Kybunpark made for a raucous affair, the proximity of the stands to the pitch creating a cavern of noise. There has been an element of good fortune, too. The Athletic attended Portugal's final group-stage match against Belgium in Sion's Stade de Tourbillon, the tournament's smallest stadium (7,750). If the ground was any bigger, it might have devoured this match into silence. Belgium were out and Portugal needed a minor miracle. Switzerland fans, along with a sprinkling of Wales fans, buffered the gaps. Advertisement It was more of the same in Norway's group-stage win against Finland. In a stadium double the size, it was not difficult to imagine the atmosphere falling flat, of empty seats and negative videos circling online. The reverse could also have been problematic: had Switzerland's home match with Iceland or Spain against Portugal taken place in Sion, there would likely have been an outcry over a lack of capacity. An early worry percolating among some high-ranking officials in UEFA was a potential drop-off in attendances, particularly if the hosts went out early. Instead, the quarter-finals shattered more records: 34,128 watched Germany's victory over France, with an unprecedented 112,535 attending the four quarter-finals in total. As the tournament has progressed and attendance records have continued to break, some critics believe Switzerland underestimated the demand for tickets, particularly from travelling supporters. England's semi-final victory against Italy boasted an attendance of 26,359, with Spain's 1-0 extra-time semi-final victory against Germany watched in front of a sold-out crowd in Zurich's Stadion Letzigrund, breaking another cumulative record: Euro 2025 is already the most-attended tournament in women's Euros history (623,088). With ticket touts and genuine fans alike standing outside, hoisting placards in the air and begging for tickets, a sense of disappointment wafted as the matches kicked off. However, one official in UEFA, who wished to remain anonymous to protect relationships, points to the long-term benefit that sold-out stadiums and increased ticket demand can reap. Previously, the culture at women's football allowed ticket purchase on matchdays. Now, tickets are desired commodities that need to be purchased well in advance, cultivating a reputation as something desirable and meaningful. Equally, the fervour of the group stages and the sold-out arenas — allied with the quality of the teams and games themselves — have played a vital role in creating the sense that this tournament is the hottest ticket in town. Hindsight is a bitter luxury in football, but atmosphere is priceless. Switzerland has cultivated the latter exquisitely. It is proof that potential is now active growth. 'When you're looking at staging any tournament, you want to have a flexible range of stadiums,' Mark Bullingham, the England Football Association's chief executive, said on Thursday. 'Switzerland have done a great job here. They've filled out every stadium apart from two games, which is a great record and they should be proud of that. Advertisement 'We need to continue to be bolder. I remember when we decided to go to Old Trafford (for the opening game in 2022), a lot of people thought we were a little bit crazy because it was such a big statement at the time, but then we sold it out and that helped set a standard. Here, they've set a brilliant standard of filling every stadium.'
Forbes
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Forbes
WSL Fans Can Now Drink Pitch-Side, Premier League Fans Still Banned
Chloe Kelly and Alex Greenwood of WSL teams Arsenal and Manchester City, respectively, and England ... More (Photo by) This season, seven Women's Super League clubs—Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, Everton, and the London City Lionesses—will allow fans to drink alcohol in their seats. No spirits smuggled in hidden flasks. No sprint-finished pints during half‑time. Just… sipping in your seat, watching the football. Like a normal person. Why? Because, last season, a pilot in the second tier (now WSL2) let fans drink in view of the pitch. Over 50,000 people took part, 66 percent supported the policy, and there were zero reported incidents. No fights. No pitch invasions. In fact, match officials reported no change in fan behaviour whatsoever. The verdict? It passed muster—and now it's expanding to the WSL's biggest clubs. That means the women's game is being trusted with something men's football still won't offer. Since 1985, drinking alcohol in view of the pitch has been banned in men's professional football in England and Wales, a relic of moral panic amid rampant hooliganism. Whereas, in women's football, it seems you don't need flares, hate‑crime chants, or some 2,000 arrests a year to generate 'passion'. You can have space for kids, decent food, and a glass of wine that doesn't taste like it came from the darkest corner of a petrol-station stock room. All while supporting great football. Record growth only sharpens the point. WSL attendance hit 902,000 this season. Arsenal Women now average over 30,000 at Emirates Stadium. Last day derbies at Old Trafford and the Joie Stadium sold out. The audience is here, and so are the expectations. Arsenal supporters celebrate Arsenal's women team victory of the UEFA Champions League during ... More celebrations outside the Emirates Stadium, in London, on May 26, 2025. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP) (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images) Naturally, there's a strong business consideration, too. Alcohol money already flows into women's football. Asahi Super Dry, in particular, has made a major commercial move in both men's and women's football this month, signing a multi‑year global partnership with Arsenal and taking over as the club's Official Beer Partner. Through the season, Asahi UK will have exclusive beer, ale, and cider pouring rights at Emirates Stadium, and the deal will likely land Arsenal £3-4 million ($4-5 million) per season, not just from the brand deal, but primarily from matchday pouring rights. Manchester City operates under the same Asahi umbrella—official beer across its men's and women's sides, reinforcing a coordinated global licensing strategy. Financial details weren't disclosed, but insiders point to a comparable deal range. Meanwhile, Heineken, UEFA's long-time Champions League sponsor (extended through 2027), has integrated the women's game since 2021, covering the UEFA Women's Champions League and Women's EURO tournaments. While the exact spend for women's football isn't public, it's clear Heineken views the investment as core to its broader European football strategy. To reckon with these numbers: Arsenal's sponsorship portfolio for women's football (already funded in the low millions) now includes a pouring partner that expects to recoup sales. Markets like these don't invest unless they see a return. If giving fans a pint means more respect—and revenue—for and from the fans, then the WSL isn't just pioneering, but outpacing the men's game entirely. Turns out you can grow a sport, please your sponsors, and treat fans like adults in football, after all. Raise a glass accordingly.
The 42
9 hours ago
- Sport
- The 42
Chelsea handed Manchester City test to open WSL title defence
CHAMPIONS CHELSEA WILL begin the defence of their Women's Super League title at home to Manchester City after fixtures for the new season were released. Sonia Bompastor's side, who romped unbeaten to a sixth consecutive crown in her first season in charge, will welcome the team that finished a disappointing fourth last campaign to Stamford Bridge on the evening of 5 September, in a match broadcast live on Sky Sports. Newl- promoted London City Lionesses face a trip to the Emirates Stadium to play European champions Arsenal the following day live on BBC One, promising a stern test for the WSL's first fully independent club in their first ever top-flight fixture. Renee Slegers' side are looking to build on their stunning victory over Barcelona in May which saw them lift the Champions League trophy, as they seek to end Chelsea's WSL monopoly and become champions for the first time since 2019. Advertisement This season marks the beginning of a new five-year broadcast deal in which every match will be made available live on either the BBC or Sky Sports. For the first time, all WSL2 matches will be broadcast live on YouTube, with Sky Sports and the BBC also having the right to select any second-tier matches for broadcast. Ireland and Arsenal star Katie McCabe. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Anfield will host its first Merseyside derby of the season on 7 September when Everton visit to kick off the campaign, whilst last season's third-place finishers Manchester United welcome Leicester to Leigh Sports Village. Brighton v Aston Villa and Tottenham v West Ham round out the opening weekend's fixtures. Last season's top two Chelsea and Arsenal meet for the first time at the Emirates on 8 November with the first Manchester derby taking place at the Etihad Stadium on 16 November. This season will be the last in which the WSL uses its current 12-team format, with the division set to expand to 14 from the 2026-27 campaign. Two clubs are set to be promoted from the new WSL2 – formerly the Championship – with the WSL's bottom side playing off against the side that finishes third in the second tier. The league have also committed to ensuring that Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United will be given two clear days' rest after domestic matches in order to prepare for midweek Champions League games.
