Wilkinson will coach Canada in U-17 World Cup
TORONTO — Former Canada fullback Rhian Wilkinson takes another step on her young coaching career in November at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Uruguay.
The 36-year-old native of BaieD’Urfe, Que., who now calls North Vancouver home, is seen as a future Canadian women’s national soccer coach. She was on Bev Priestman’s coaching staff at the CONCACAF Women’s Under-17 Championship, where Canada finished third to book its ticket to the World Cup.
But Priestman subsequently left the Canadian Soccer Association to become an assistant coach with the English women’s team, with Wilkinson taking over the team for the 16-team Uruguay tournament that runs Nov. 13 to Dec. 1.
Canada opens Group D play against Colombia on Nov. 14 in Montevideo’s Estadio Charrua before taking on South Korea on Nov. 17 and Spain on Nov. 21. It’s a tough group, with Spain having done well recently in the age group. Altitude will also be a factor.
The 21-player Canadian roster features four players who have already been called up by the senior side: Jordyn Huitema, Jayde Riviere, Maya Antoine and Ariel Young. Huitema is a regular while the other three have been called into different camps.
Wilkinson wants the four not to feel the pressure of their senior credentials.
“I just need them to play the game that’s gotten them senior team experience — that joy and that love of living on the ball,” she said in an interview.
“It’s a good team and they’re obviously four important parts, but the whole team is very exciting.”
Wilkinson, whose first name is pronounced Ree-in, has also served as an assistant to senior women’s coach Kenneth Heiner-Moller, as a youth assistant coach and coached Canada at the recent CONCACAF Girls’ Under-15 Championship.
“It’s been crazy, a lot of it,” she said. “But so much experience. (It’s) amazing, actually.”
She started worked on her coaching badges while still playing, paying out of her pocket to get her UEFA B licence in Wales. Then-senior coach John Herdman, looking to use veteran players as mentors, made her an assistant coach with the Canada entry at the 2014 FIFA U-20
World Cup.
With the help of Canada Soccer, she is currently working on her UEFA A coaching licence.