Tanya Oxtoby appointed Newcastle United Women manager | OneFootball

Tanya joins on a contract until June 2029, having recently been manager of the Northern Ireland Women's National Team, where she spent just over two years.

A robust and detailed recruitment process led by Director of Women's Football Grace Williams, and involving CEO David Hopkinson, Sporting Director Ross Wilson, Head of Football Strategy Jack Ross and Director of Performance James Bunce, identified Tanya as the standout candidate to lead the team forward.

During her time in charge of Northern Ireland the 43-year-old led a period of transition, overseeing the development and pathway of a younger squad which has established itself as a competitive side on the international stage.

Prior to that, Tanya spent two seasons as assistant coach to Emma Hayes at Chelsea, helping them win two Barclays Women's Super League titles and three Adobe Women's FA Cup crowns.

At the Blues, she coached and developed some of the world's best players including the likes of Sam Kerr, Lauren James and Pernille Harder.

Her last club managerial role saw her lead Bristol City Women for three years. Notably, she secured a record points total and a sixth place finish in the WSL (Women's Super League) in her first season. Tanya also spent time in assistant coach roles at Scotland, Birmingham City, Australia Under-20s and Perth Glory as well as managing Nottingham Forest Women at the start of her coaching career.

On becoming Newcastle United Women manager, Tanya said: "I am excited and honoured. It is an exciting project and it's my job to add to that, we are very ambitious, and it will be an amazing journey.

"My job is to come in and develop players and take us to the next level. I want to help everyone reach their potential and take them on a journey that will be really successful.

"The ambition that the club shows and my own ambition, they align and we are wanting to be successful and that's the responsibility I carry."

Director of Women's Football Grace Williams said: "We are delighted to welcome Tanya to the club. She brings with her a great amount of experience and it was clear throughout the process that she matches the drive and ambition that we have to take Newcastle United Women forward.

"Tanya knows our team and the quality that it has within it, and she is excited to work with and develop our players as we move into the next part of our journey.

"As a leadership team, we were all impressed with Tanya and believe she is the perfect fit to help us embed the long-term strategy that will allow us to thrive beyond this season."