_(cropped).jpg) Stoney in 2019 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Casey Jean Stoney[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1982-05-13)13 May 1982 (age 43)[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Basildon, England[3] | ||
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.74 m)[4] | ||
| Position | Defender[4] | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1994–1998 | Chelsea | ||
| 1998–1999 | Arsenal | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1999–2002 | Arsenal | ||
| 2002–2007 | Charlton Athletic | ||
| 2007–2011 | Chelsea | ||
| 2011–2013 | Lincoln | 38 | (1) |
| 2014–2016 | Arsenal | 39 | (5) |
| 2016–2018 | Liverpool | 14 | (1) |
| International career | |||
| 2000–2017 | England | 130 | (6) |
| 2012 | Great Britain | 5 | (1) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2009 | Chelsea | ||
| 2009 | England (assistant) | ||
| 2018–2021 | Manchester United | ||
| 2021–2024 | San Diego Wave | ||
| 2025– | Canada | ||
Medal record | |||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Casey Jean StoneyMBE[5][6] (born 13 May 1982) is an English professionalfootball manager and formerplayer who currently serves as the head coach of theCanada women's national soccer team.
A versatile defender, she wascapped more than 100 times for theEngland women's national football team since making her debut in 2000. After being a non-playing squad member atUEFA Women's Euro 2005, she was an integral part of the England teams which reached theUEFA Women's Euro 2009 final and the quarter finals of theFIFA Women's World Cup in2007 and2011. In 2012, Stoney succeededFaye White as the Englandcaptain and also became captain of the newly formedGreat Britain squad for the2012 Summer Olympics.[7] She ended her playing career atLiverpool Ladies.
She was the first head coach of the newly formedManchester United Women from June 2018 to May 2021. In the inaugural season, United won theFA Women's Championship title andpromotion to theFA WSL. On 14 July 2021, Stoney was announced as the head coach ofSan Diego Wave FC of theNational Women's Soccer League (NWSL).[8][9] The Wave fired Stoney in 2024 following a seven-game winless streak.
Stoney joinedChelsea Ladies, aged 12,[10] before moving toArsenal Ladies in 1999.
Already an England international, Stoney joinedCharlton Athletic Ladies in the summer of 2002 in search of regular first-team football. She also took up a scholarship atThe Football Association's National Player Development Centre atLoughborough University.[11] In a successful first season Stoney captained Charlton to their firstFA Women's Cup final.[12]
She led Charlton to success in theFA Women's Premier League Cup in 2004,[13] the FA Women's Cup in 2005 as Charlton beat Everton 1–0,[2] and the 2–1 victory overArsenal in the 2006 Premier League Cup.[14] When Charlton disbanded their entire women's section following therelegation ofCharlton Athletic men's team in 2007, Stoney said:[15]
I'm disgusted with the club – the men get relegated and we get punished. The club's only trophies in recent years have been won by the women's team – and in the last four seasons we were the only side apart from Arsenal to win major honours. Seven weeks ago we played in front of a record crowd at the FA Cup final – that's now our last match and I'm totally gutted for everyone involved on the women's side. I just hope that what has happened to us doesn't reverberate around the women's game – otherwise it will be in serious trouble.
In July 2007, she signed forChelsea Ladies along with Charlton and England teammateEniola Aluko.[10] In February 2009, she becameplayer-manager until the end of the season, following the resignation of Steve Jones.[16] At Stoney's recommendation,Matt Beard took over as manager for 2009–10.[17]
On 13 March 2010, Stoney announced onTwitter that she had signed forFA WSL rivalsLincoln Ladies to play alongside England stars such asSue Smith andJess Clarke. Stoney stated that Lincoln offered the prospect of full-time training, which Chelsea were unable to match.[18]Keith Boanas, her manager at Charlton, revealed that Stoney is a Chelsea supporter so found the decision extremely difficult.[19]
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Stoney re-joinedArsenal on a two-year deal for the 2014 season, citing her desire to win more trophies.[20]
On 13 December 2016,Liverpool confirmed that Stoney had signed with the club.[21] She played her last match at the club on 21 February 2018. She subsequently retired to take a role inPhil Neville's backroom team in theEngland women's national team.[22]
Stoney came throughEngland's under-age squads, making her debut for the senior team in August 2000 as asubstitute againstFrance. She was named in the provisional 30-player squad forEuro 2001 but did not make the final list of 20 and remained on the standby list. She made her first start in March 2002 againstNorway,[23] and, after spells in central defence[12] and at right back,[24] went on to become England's first choiceleft back.[25] In February 2003 Stoney wore the captain's armband when regular skipperKaren Walker was substituted in a 1–0 friendly defeat byItaly.[12] Her first senior international goal came as England beatPortugal 4–0 in theAlgarve Cup in March 2005.[2]
Stoney was named in the squad forEuro 2005, hosted in England, but remained unused as the hosts made a group stage exit. Her disappointment was such that she considered retiring from international football.[26] But by the2007 FIFA Women's World Cup in China, Stoney, preferred toRachel Unitt at left back, was one of four England players to play every minute of every match as they lost a quarter final 3–0 to theUnited States.[27] Stoney won the Nationwide International Player of the Year award for the 2007–08 season, ahead ofAnita Asante andAlex Scott.[28] In May 2009, Stoney was one of the first 17 female players to be given central contracts byThe Football Association (FA).[29]
At theEuro 2009 final tournament in Finland, Stoney recovered from a red card in a 2–1 opening match defeat byItaly[30] to help England reach the final. Stoney explained that for many players this was not only the best moment of their careers, but possibly the happiest moment in their lives.[31]
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Stoney started all four of England's games at the2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, and converted her kick in the quarter-finalpenalty shoot-out defeat toFrance.[32] When pregnantFaye White retired from international football in 2012, Hope Powell appointed Stoney as the new England captain. "It's an absolute honour, the biggest privilege I've ever been given," was Stoney's response.[26]
In 2013, Stoney became the first female member of theProfessional Footballers' Association's management committee.[33] She led England into theirEuro 2013 campaign but the team performed poorly and finished in last place, to her "bitter disappointment".[34] When England's longstanding managerHope Powell was sacked, Stoney was left out of new bossMark Sampson's first squad due to a foot injury. Sampson informed Stoney that her captaincy was under review, a decision she understood.[35]Steph Houghton was then named as her successor as captain.[36]
After being called for her third straight World Cup, Stoney said the2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada would be her last.[37] Mostly coming out of the bench, Stoney was part of the first English team to qualify for the semi-finals.[38] She was part of the England squad which reached the semi-finals ofUEFA Women's Euro 2017. She played her last international match against Denmark on 1 July 2017.
She was allotted 134 when the FA announced their legacy numbers scheme to honour the 50th anniversary of England's inaugural international.[39][40]
In June 2012, Stoney was named in the 18-playerGreat Britain squad formed for the2012 Summer Olympics.[41] The group was selected by England managerHope Powell and comprised 16 English players plusScotsKim Little andIfeoma Dieke. Stoney was confirmed in her role as captain.[42] Stoney scored in the team's secondgroup stage match, a 3–0 win overCameroon.[43] After winning all three matches and finishing at the top of the table for Group E, Great Britain advanced to the quarter finals where they facedCanada in front of 28,828 spectators atCity of Coventry Stadium. Stoney was disappointed when Great Britain lost 2–0 and were knocked out. She argued for the continued participation of Great Britain at future Olympic football tournaments.[44] England's third-place finish at the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup secured Great Britain's qualification for the2016 Summer Olympics, but the team were blocked from competing due to political infighting among the "Home Nations". A2016 UEFA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament was convened instead.[45]
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In February 2009, she becameChelsea Ladies'player-manager until June 2009 following the resignation of Steve Jones.[16][17]
Following her retirement in 2018, Stoney joinedPhil Neville's backroom team in theEngland women's national team.[22]
On 8 June 2018, Stoney was appointed as the first head coach of the newly formedManchester United Women.[46] Stoney's first game in charge of United was aNorth West derby victory in theLeague Cup.[47] In the inaugural season, United won theFA Women's Championship title andpromotion to theFA WSL; winning 18 of 20 games and losing only once.[48][49][50] In addition to the division title, Stoney guided United to anFA Cup quarter-final andLeague Cup semi-final, beating four WSL teams in the process.[51][52]
On the opening weekend of the2019–20 FA WSL season, Stoney managed United in the team's firstManchester derby in front of a crowd of 31,213, an English domestic women's league record. Manchester United lost 1–0,[53] but prevailed six weeks later in theLeague Cup to earn her and the club's first Manchester derby win, beatingManchester City 2–0.[54] On 8 November 2019, Stoney signed a contract extension with Manchester United, keeping her at the club until 2022.[55] During the season, Stoney was a vocal critic of the quality of refereeing within the WSL, calling it "substandard" following United's 1–0 loss toChelsea on 17 November 2019.[56][57] Stoney's United, again, drew considerable media attention in February 2020 following a controversial phantom handball penalty decision againstKatie Zelem in United's 1–1 draw withReading.[58][59] On 12 May 2021, it was announced Stoney would be stepping down as Manchester United manager at the end of the season having secured a second successive fourth-place league finish, one point behindArsenal in the final Champions League qualification spot.[60][61]
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On 14 July 2021, Stoney was announced as the inaugural head coach ofNational Women's Soccer League clubSan Diego Wave FC, which began play in 2022.[8][9] The Wave completed its first competition under Stoney, the2022 NWSL Challenge Cup, with a third-place group stage finish in the West Division on a1–3–2 record.[62] The Wave completed its first season under Stoney in third place on the league table with a10–6–6 record. Stoney was named the league'scoach of the year, Wave goalkeeperKailen Sheridan was named the league's goalkeeper of the year,[63] and Wave strikerAlex Morgan won the league's golden boot.[64] The Wave advanced to theNWSL Playoffs and defeatedChicago Red Stars 2–1 in extra time to advance to the semifinals,[65] where they lost to eventual championsPortland Thorns.[63]
In 2023, Stoney's Wave FC were the NWSL regular season champions after defeatingRacing Louisville FC on the last day of the 2023 regular season, winning the NWSL 2023 Shield. Winning the shield earned them abye to the semi-finals of the post-season, where they fell to theOL Reign on the Wave's home field ofSnapdragon Stadium.[66]
The Wave started the 2024 season by winning the one-off2024 NWSL Challenge Cup but sat in ninth place of 14 teams midway through the season. Winless over their last seven games, the Wave fired Stoney on 24 June 2024.[67]
Stoney was named head coach of theCanada women's national soccer team in January 2025, signing a contract through 2027 with an optional one-year extension;[68] she became the permanent replacement forBev Priestman, who departed following adrone spying scandal.[69]
Stoney coached the team to win the2025 Pinatar Cup. She used the tournament to assess various players in the national team pool, including in her squad selection two players from theNorthern Super League, Canada's domestic professional league in its inaugural season, and giving game time to all but two players named to theroster for the competition.[70][71]
In November 2012, Stoney was named 50th onThe Independent newspaper's Pink List of influential lesbian and gay people in the United Kingdom.[72] On 10 February 2014, Stoney first publiclyacknowledged that she was a lesbian.[73] She is in a relationship with her former Lincoln team mate Megan Harris.[74] On 16 July 2014, she announced that Harris was pregnant with twins,[75] who were born on 8 November 2014.[76] Stoney's third child was born on 12 December 2017.
In May 2015, theUniversity of Essex awarded Stoney anhonorary degree.[77]
Stoney was appointedMember of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the2015 Birthday Honours for services to football.[78]
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| England goals | ||||||
| 1 | 9 March 2005 | Estádio de São Luís,Faro, Portugal |  Portugal | 1–0 | 4–0 | 2005 Algarve Cup |
| 2 | 8 March 2007 | National Hockey Stadium,Milton Keynes, England |  Russia | 6–0 | Friendly | |
| 3 | 7 March 2009 | Paralimni Stadium,Paralimni, Cyprus |  France | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2009 Cyprus Cup |
| 4 | 1 March 2010 | Larnaca, Cyprus |  Switzerland | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2010 Cyprus Cup |
| 5 | 19 September 2012 | Bescot Stadium,Walsall, England |  Croatia | 1–0 | 3–0 | UEFA Euro 2013 qualification |
| 6 | 19 June 2014 | Arena Lviv,Lviv, Ukraine |  Ukraine | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification |
| Great Britain goals | ||||||
| 1 | 28 July 2012 | Millennium Stadium,Cardiff, Wales |  Cameroon | 3–0 | 2012 Olympic Games | |
| Team | From | To | Record | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | |||
| Manchester United W.F.C. | 8 June 2018 | 16 May 2021 | 77 | 52 | 6 | 19 | 213 | 60 | +153 | 067.53 |
| San Diego Wave FC | 14 July 2021 | 24 June 2024 | 74 | 28 | 19 | 27 | 92 | 80 | +12 | 037.84 |
| Canada women | 13 January 2025 | Present | 9 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 24 | 8 | +16 | 066.67 |
| Career totals | 160 | 86 | 26 | 48 | 329 | 148 | +181 | 053.75 | ||
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Arsenal
Charlton Athletic
England
Individual
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Manchester United
San Diego Wave
Canada
Individual
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