From a playing career spanning 20 years, to becoming the new head coach of Manchester United Women in June 2018, Casey Stoney has overseen a sea change in women’s football.

Born in Basildon, Stoney was signed for Chelsea’s women’s team in 1994, aged just 12. Stoney’s talent at club level was immediately noticed and she made her senior debut for the England national team against France in 2000, aged just 18.

Stoney became the fifth player to make over 100 appearances for the Lionesses, making a total of 130 appearances by the time of her retirement. A captain for the England women's team, Stoney played an integral part in the Lionesses rise up the world rankings, with a third-place finish in the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup one of the highlights.

The defender led Team GB to the quarter-finals of the London 2012 Olympic Games, scoring in the second group stage match against Cameroon and leading her side to a memorable 1-0 victory against Brazil in front of over 72,000 fans at Wembley stadium.

Stoney received an MBE for services to football in 2015, highlighting how far the women’s game had progressed in England.

With 130 appearances at international level and a playing career that spans nearly twenty years, not to mention a wealth of coaching experience, Stoney heads into her Manchester United Women tenure with plenty of experience that will no doubt put her in good stead.

Source: Manchester United Women