Bev Priestman appointed head coach of Canada women's soccer team

Bev Priestman has returned to the Canada women's national team fold to take over as head coach.

The England native spent five years developing talent in Canada's youth setup and assisted former women's team head coach John Herdman until 2018. She most recently helped Phil Neville guide England to the semifinal of the 2019 Women's World Cup and oversaw the Lionesses' under-18 team.

"When the opportunity to lead Canada Women was on the table, I knew immediately it was something I had to do," Priestman told the Football Association. "To have the chance to return and work with some great people and lead a senior national team into two Olympic Games and the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2023 fulfills so many of my professional goals."

Priestman will officially succeed Kenneth Heiner-Moller in the role on Nov. 1. At 34, the new head coach is three years younger than Canada's all-time top goalscorer Christine Sinclair.