Football West would like to congratulate Tanya Oxtoby on her appointment as assistant coach at English club Chelsea, where she will team up with Matildas superstar and fellow West Australian Sam Kerr.
Oxtoby joins manager Emma Hayes and her backroom staff for the start of the Women’s Super League competition, which begins this weekend.
A former Perth Glory player and assistant coach, Oxtoby has maintained her links to the local game despite her long and successful career in the UK.
She is currently a member of the Football West Game Development Committee, which makes recommendations to the Football West Board on football matters. She is also on the board of Football West’s Football Futures Foundation charitable organisation.
Football West Chief Football Officer Jamie Harnwell said: “Congratulations to Tanya on this appointment, it is a well-deserved reward for all of her hard work. She is a tremendous advert for both WA football and the women’s game.
“Her commitment to the local game is fantastic. She is a key member of both of our Game Development Committee and Football Futures Foundation board, giving both her time and experience.
“And it is even more special that she will work with Sam Kerr, Australia’s greatest ever female player and, like Oxtoby, a product of the Football West NTC program.
“The pair are great examples to young West Australian players, girls and boys, what can be achieved with hard work, dedication and, of course, exceptional talent.”
Oxtoby had been managing Bristol City from 2018 until she stepped down last month, having been on maternity leave since January this year.
Commenting on her new appointment, Oxtoby said: “To be joining such an illustrious team of players and staff is a true honour.
“I always said it would take something special for me to end my maternity leave early and when this opportunity arose, and after to speaking to Emma and Paul (Chelsea Women general manager Paul Green), it felt like the ideal move for me. I’m looking forward to working not only with world-class players, but the amazingly talented staff at the club and being able to contribute to further success.”
Green said: “We are pleased to add Tanya to our coaching team. She is a coach with considerable experience in the WSL and a good track record of developing players.
“We feel that she will add another dimension to our talented group, both on and off the pitch, that will impact the team.
“We look forward to having Tanya join us.”
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