Football News: Remi Allen, 33, Takes Reins as Southampton Head Coach

In a remarkable career transition, 33-year-old Remi Allen has been appointed as the new head coach of Southampton Football Club. The former player, who hung up her boots at the end of last season, has been working towards this opportunity throughout her career.

Coaching Journey and Appointment

Allen’s coaching journey began over 15 years ago when she started coaching in Leicester’s youth setup as a teenager. She has since taken on coaching roles at every club she played for, with the exception of her pandemic-hit second spell at Leicester, where she was solely focused on playing.

The news of Allen’s appointment at the Championship side came as she was on her honeymoon in Bali with her wife, Carly Davies, the Nottingham Forest head coach. “It was a whirlwind moment,” Allen says, reflecting on the excitement of the opportunity.

Since taking the reins in July, Allen has been embracing the challenges of relocating, moving between hotels and Airbnbs as she searches for a permanent home. She is thrilled with the excellent facilities at the club’s Staplewood training ground and is grateful for Southampton’s belief in her.

Playing Career and Coaching Philosophy

Allen’s playing career included spells at various top-flight clubs, including Aston Villa, Reading, and two stints with Birmingham, with whom she reached the semi-finals of the Champions League. She describes herself as a “nasty, aggressive player” but is keen to implement an attractive, passing style of football at Southampton.

Women’s Football Representation

The new Southampton head coach is one of only a handful of British women to be appointed as a first-team manager/head coach in the Women’s Super League (WSL) and the EFL Championship this summer. In the top-tier WSL, all four of the new managers are from overseas, while eight of the division’s 12 managers are male, three of them British.

In contrast, the EFL Championship sees a slight majority of six British female head coaches, with Allen being one of four aged 35 or under, along with Bristol City’s Lauren Smith, promoted Newcastle’s Becky Langley, and Birmingham’s Amy Merricks.

“It’s not about just being female or English and ‘You should get a job’ – absolutely not,” she says. “You have to be good enough to do it. But I’ve worked with some unbelievable English coaches and I do think they get overlooked at times.”

Looking Ahead

Southampton’s “coaches of tomorrow” scheme, which provides free coaching qualifications for grassroots women and girls, aligns with Allen’s values. She is excited to build on the successful tenure of former England great Marieanne Spacey-Cale, who guided the club up the pyramid before moving upstairs in April.

As Allen takes on the challenge of leading Southampton in the highly competitive EFL Championship this season, she is determined to push the club forward and evolve their playing style. “It’s an exciting time to be around Southampton,” she says. “We want to push on, evolve and develop. I’m really excited to meet the fans.”

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