Former England international Izzy Christiansen joins the Lionesses’ U23 coaching team | OneFootball

Former England international Izzy Christiansen has joined the U23 coaching team. Photo credit: Ian Walton for FA

Former England international Izzy Christiansen has joined the coaching staff for the Lionesses’ U23 team.

She joins head coach Emma Coates’ setup as a second assistant alongside Gemma Davies.

What Izzy Christiansen will bring to the England U23 team

England U23 head coach Emma Coates is excited by the addition of Izzy Christiansen who has already started work with the team ahead of their upcoming fixtures with Germany and Portugal.

Coates told the BBC: “We got into coaching really young but we haven’t played at the top, top level. Izzy adds that angle.

“She’s played in the games they’re playing in. Her experience speaks for itself. She’s someone the players can connect to on a different level.“

Coates revealed that Christiansen delivered the training session on Monday and that it was ‘brilliant’.

She added: “I’m excited for her to get her teeth into it. She’s another great person to get involved with our coaching team.”

Coates has been head coach of the England U23 team since February 2023.

The U23 team for this month’s fixtures includes the likes of Freya Godfrey, Naomi Layzell, Isobel Goodwin, Lexi Potter and Mia Enderby.

Izzy Christiansen’s England history

During her playing career, Izzy Christiansen won 31 senior caps for the Lionesses between 2015 and 2019.

She marked her international debut with a goal during an 8-0 victory over Estonia in September 2015.

Christiansen made her major tournament debut at Women’s Euro 2017, where the Lionesses crashed out in the semi-finals to eventual winners the Netherlands.

However, her international career was curtailed due to injuries and her final cap came in the SheBelieves Cup in March 2019, when she suffered an ankle injury during their 3-0 win over Japan.

This led to her missing out on the 2019 Women’s World Cup, when she otherwise would have been expected to make Phil Neville’s squad.

Christiansen, who played for Everton, Birmingham City, Manchester City and Lyon, retired from football in 2023.

Since then, she has worked as a youth coach at Manchester City and also worked as a pundit and co-commentator.

In August, she was named Manchester City Next Gen head coach.

Former Lionesses who became coaches

There are a number of former Lionesses who have also turned their hand to coaching.

Hope Powell played 72 times for England before taking on the managerial role for the Lionesses from 1998 to 2013. She also managed Brighton and is currently the technical director at Birmingham City.

Another notable former Lioness to turn to management is Casey Stoney, who played 130 times for England. Stoney previously managed Chelsea, Manchester United and San Diego Wave, and is now the head coach for Canada.

Anita Asante, who played 71 times for England, previously managed Bristol City.

Jo Potter enjoyed success as manager of Rangers before becoming Crystal Palace boss back in June.

Rachel Yankey, who played 129 times for England, had a brief spell in charge of the London Bees back in 2019.

There could be some future coaches on the way to with Kelly Smith, Natasha Dowie, and Nikita Parris all having had involvement in the FA’s Player to Coach program.

England U23 squad for fixtures with Germany and Portugal

Christiansen will hope her work can inspire England to victories over Germany and Portugal this month.

The U23 side travel to Germany on Thursday, October 23rd, before welcoming Portugal to the home of Northampton Town on Monday, October 27th.

Ruby Mace and Maisie Symonds have been replaced in Coates’ squad by Ashanti Akpan and Lexi Lloyd-Smith due to injuries. This news came at the same time as it was announced that Katie Reid had withdrawn from England’s senior team.

Below is the full squad for England’s upcoming games.

Goalkeepers: Katie Cox (Aberdeen, on loan from Chelsea), Faye Kirby (Liverpool), Natalia Negri (Ipswich Town)

Defenders: Cerys Brown (London City Lionesses), Anouk Denton (West Ham), Naomi Layzell (Manchester City), Gracie Prior (Manchester City), Evie Rabjohn (Sunderland, on loan from Manchester United), Hannah Silcock (Liverpool), Jess Simpson (Southampton, on loan from Manchester United), Mari Ward (Bristol City)

Midfielders: Ashanti Akpan (Southampton, on loan from Chelsea)*, Sarah Brasero (West Ham), Laila Harbert (Portland Thorns, on loan from Arsenal), Lexi Lloyd-Smith (Bristol City)**, Olivia McLoughlin (Leicester City), Lexi Potter (Chelsea)

Forwards: Keira Barry (Sunderland, on loan from Manchester United), Mia Enderby (Liverpool), Freya Godfrey (London City Lionesses), Isobel Goodwin (London City Lionesses), Lenna Gunning-Williams (Tottenham Hotspur), Georgia Mullett (Aston Villa)