Carla Ward

Carla Ward (born 21 December 1983) is an English football coach and former midfielder who is the manager of Aston Villa in the FA Women's Super League.

Carla Ward
Personal information
Full name Carla Ward
Date of birth (1983-12-21) 21 December 1983
Place of birth Isle of Wight, England
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Aston Villa
Youth career
Torquay United L.F.C
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Bristol City
2004–2006 Bristol Rovers
2006–2007 Sporting Plaza de Argel
2007 Leeds United
2007–2011 Lincoln Ladies
2011–2017 Sheffield FC
2017–2018 Sheffield United
Managerial career
2018–2020 Sheffield United
2020–2021 Birmingham City
2021– Aston Villa
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Early life

Born on the Isle of Wight, Ward grew up on a council estate in Torquay where she learned to play football in the street.[1]

Club career

After a season in Spain with Sporting Plaza de Argel, Ward joined Leeds United for 2007–08, but signed for Lincoln in December 2007.[2] In summer 2009 Doncaster Rovers Belles beat competition from other Premier League clubs to secure Ward's signature, but she experienced a "change of heart" and returned to Lincoln after a few weeks.[3] When Lincoln were accepted into the new FA WSL, Ward moved to Sheffield FC, initially on loan.[4]

In November 2017, club captain Ward left Sheffield FC after more than 200 appearances and over 100 goals.[5]

Managerial career

Sheffield United

In November 2017, Ward joined Sheffield United in the FA Women's Premier League Midlands Division One as player-assistant manager.[6] She took over as interim manager on 17 January 2018 after Dan O'Hearne stepped down before being given the job on a permanent basis.[7] In her first game as interim manager, United beat Birmingham & West Midlands 5–0 followed up with a 10–0 victory over Rotherham United.[8][9] Ward was involved in the club's successful application to the FA Women's Championship.[10] In total, Ward managed for 58 games, taking the team to a 5th place Championship finish in the 2018–19 season and a 2nd place finish in the 2019–20 season before mutually agreeing to depart in July 2020.[11]

Birmingham City

In August 2020, Ward was appointed Birmingham City with the team in the middle of a rebuild having narrowly escaped relegation the season before and only retaining ten senior players following an offseason exodus.[12][13] During her tenure, the players formally issued a list of complaints to the club's board, stating that the club was "preventing us from performing our jobs to the best of our ability." Concerns included lack of facilities, medical support and travel provisions.[14] Ward was named to WSL Manager of the Year shortlist at the end of the season, steering the team away from relegation as Birmingham finishing 11th of 12 teams.[15] On 14 May 2021, Ward announced her resignation effective as of the team's final game of the season on 16 May 2021.[16]

Aston Villa

On 20 May 2021, following her resignation from Birmingham City, Ward was appointed manager of rival FA WSL side Aston Villa.[17] Ward's first season led to a 9th place finish in the WSL.[18] In the 2022/23 season, Aston Villa finished 5th, and also reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup in a season that saw new signing Rachel Daly win the WSL Golden Boot.[19] In May 2023, Ward signed a new contract with Aston Villa until the end of the 2024/25 season.[20]

Managerial statistics
As of 20 May 2021
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record Ref
P W D L GF GA GD Win %
Sheffield United 17 January 2018 7 July 2020 58 34 7 17 141 88 +53 058.62
Birmingham City 13 August 2020 16 May 2021 26 6 7 13 24 47 −23 023.08 [21]
Aston Villa 20 May 2021 present 12 3 1 8 8 21 −13 025.00
Career totals 96 43 15 38 173 156 +17 044.79

Honours

Individual

References
  1. Sheild, James (4 June 2018). "Sheffield United: How one team's Championship celebrations did not go quite as they had planned". Sheffield Star. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  2. Impgrass, Ivan (10 December 2007). "Carla Ward jions [sic] Lady Imps". Vital Lincoln. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  3. Green, Paul (9 August 2009). "Ward Re-joins OOH Lincoln". Doncaster Rovers Belles L.F.C. Archived from the original on 31 August 2009. Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  4. Vee, Aleks (January 2017). "Sheffield 160: Carla Ward". GoalChatter. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  5. "Carla Ward No Longer A Sheffield FC Player". Sheffield F.C. 3 November 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  6. "Carla becomes a Blade". www.sufc.co.uk.
  7. "Dan steps down". www.sufc.co.uk.
  8. "Sheffield United vs. Birmingham WM - 28 January 2018 - Women Soccerway". uk.women.soccerway.com.
  9. "Sheffield United vs. Rotherham United - 4 February 2018 - Women Soccerway". uk.women.soccerway.com.
  10. Laverty, Rich (20 July 2018). "Behind the Scenes: Sheffield United Prepare for Life in the FA Women's Championship". Our Game Magazine. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
  11. "Carla departs". www.sufc.co.uk.
  12. Whyatt, Katie (13 August 2020). "Birmingham City to unveil Carla Ward as their new head coach". The Telegraph.
  13. "Carla Ward appointed Women's Head Coach". Birmingham City Football Club.
  14. Garry, Tom (5 April 2021). "Special WSL report: Birmingham Women hit out at club for 'preventing us doing our jobs'". The Telegraph.
  15. "Carla Ward nominated for BFAWSL Manager of the Season". Birmingham City Football Club.
  16. Garry, Tom (14 May 2021). "Carla Ward resigns as Birmingham City Women manager". The Telegraph.
  17. "Ex-Birmingham boss Ward joins Villa". BBC Sport.
  18. "Women's Super League (Sky Sports)". SkySports. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  19. Starkie, Polly (29 May 2023). "Hi Ho Aston Villa: A WSL Season to Remember". Sporting Her. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  20. Frith, Wilf (27 May 2023). "Carla Ward signs new contract with Aston Villa Women - SheKicks". Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  21. "Carla Ward Managerial Profile". www.footballdatabase.eu. Archived from the original on 16 December 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  22. "Aston Villa's Carla Ward and Rachel Daly scoop WSL Manager and Player of the Month". ITV News. 14 October 2022.
  23. "Carla Ward wins Manager of the Month award!". Aston Villa F.C. 2 February 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
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