May 23 – In her first major press conference since being appointed as the first female coach in the top two divisions of any of Europe’s major leagues, Helena Costa said she just wants to be treated like her male colleagues.
Earlier this month, in a blow for gender equality, French second-tier club Clermont Foot 63 appointed Costa to take over next season.
“Look at me as a normal coach,” the 36-year-old Portuguese, who left her role as coach of the Iranian national women’s team to accept the position, told more than 100 reporters.
“I know it’s a big step because I had a career before in a man’s world mainly, so I know it’s an important day and it can open other doors, or not. I understand your surprise … but, we are in 2014, it should be a normal thing.”
Costa, a sports science graduate, was highly successful as Benfica’s men’s youth team coach before taking over the Qatar women’s team in 2010 and then their Iranian counterparts.
Clermont Foot finished 14th in Ligue 2 and Costa laid out her strategy for her first season in charge. “I think that as in all leagues, if a club doesn’t have a huge budget that doesn’t mean that the players should not be ambitious and committed,” she said.
“I’m here to win. I’m a demanding person with myself and my team, but especially with myself. I’m not afraid. If I didn’t think I’m capable of this, I wouldn’t be here. If I didn’t think the players would accept me, and if I didn’t believe in my work, I wouldn’t be here either.”
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734844453labto1734844453ofdlr1734844453owedi1734844453sni@w1734844453ahsra1734844453w.wer1734844453dna1734844453