Scot Shelley Kerr is first female football manager

The University of Stirling has made history by appointing Shelley Kerr as the first female manager in British men’s senior football.

Shelley Kerr leads the way at a coaching session for Lowland League side Stirling University. Picture: Mark Ferguson

The 59-times-capped Scottish internationalist will lead the continued development of the men’s football club, and carry out head coaching duties for the football scholarship programme at Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence.

With the University’s 1st XI now playing in the Scottish Lowland League, in effect the fifth tier of Scottish senior football, Ms Kerr becomes the first female in the UK to manage a senior professional men’s team.

Ms Kerr will also begin studying for an MSc in Sports Management at the University next month. She is one of only four women in the UK to hold the acclaimed Uefa Pro-Licence Award and previously managed Arsenal Ladies in the English Women’s Premier League, leading them into the European Champions League, as well as gaining FA Cup success. Prior to working with the London-based club she was the Scotland Women’s Under-19 coach.