Wellington, New Zealand – Canadian coach has been banned from serving as head coach of New Zealand's only professional women's team for his role in the drone spy scandal at the Paris Olympics.
Bev Priestman, who recently suspended for one year in all football-related activities, signed a two-year contract with Wellington Phoenix, the capital of New Zealand.
Priestman’s wife Emma Humphries was hired as director of the club academy by Wellington Phoenix in December. Humphries is a former New Zealand International who previously coached the Canadian Youth Women's National Team.
Editing selection
1 Related
For Priestman, it was a turning point in fate, and she used drones to monitor the New Zealand Women's National Team with other coaches before the first match of the Canadian Olympic Games after FIFA conducted an investigation.
She was fired as Canada's head coach after Canadian football review.
“We are really happy to welcome Bev back to the football game,” Phoenix Chairman Rob Morrison said Wednesday. “We all know she has been a while since the game. But we know the situation and we are very happy with the date.”
Priestman coached Canada to win gold medals at the Tokyo Olympics and coached in four Women's World Cups, three Olympics and three FIFA Youth World Cups. She also worked in New Zealand, coaching development in Wellington, and then served as Director of Football Development in New Zealand.
Priestman thanked the club and officials in a statement for “giving me this opportunity to return to the game I love and hopefully bring some special moments not only to this city, but to this country.”
“Phoenix is a great club with ambitions, world-class facilities and a great fan base,” she said. “It’s our responsibility to fly the flag for this country and try to do something special.”
Wellington Phoenix competes in Australia's top women's competition, A League women, and Priestman aims to win the championship.
“There will be hunger and desire there because we know we want to achieve the first one [winning the title] For this club, this will bring something special. ” she said in a club statement.
Australian Professional League chairman Stephen Conroy said Priestman's signing was a “great recognition” of the game.
“BEV is a world-renowned national team head coach and Olympic champion,” Conroy said. “And her experience and expertise will have a big boost to Phoenix's emerging roster.”
The Associated Press information was used in this story. ESPN writer Jeff Kassouf also contributed.