Photo: 24-Year-Old Woman Named Coach Of Men’s Team

Croatia is not famed for being a bastion of feminism but a fifth division football club has made a bold move by appointing former model Tihana Nemcic as their new manager.
The 24-year-old former player – and a finalist of Croatia Miss Sport – has taken over the reins at fifth division side NK Viktorija Vojakovac. ‘If a woman and a man have the same professional qualifications for a coaching job, I see no reason why I should not get into male football,’ she told 24 Sata.

She said her players ‘listen to me and make no problems,’ adding: ‘I am the head coach and I have full liberty to create and plan the team’s tactics.’ Nemcic, who played for Dinamo Zagreb’s women’s team and the Croatia national side, was among 15 finalists for Croatia’s Miss Sport in 2008.

In the UK, there are no women managers in professional football, despite England manager Hope Powell being linked to several Football League clubs. The number of female assistant referees is growing though, and the Football Association appointed Heather Rabbatts as a director last year.