Gary Williams (football manager)
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 7 December 1977 | ||
| Place of birth | Ashford, England | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | IFK Mariehamn (manager) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Chelsea | |||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1996–2000 | Lindsey Wilson Blue Raiders | ||
| Managerial career | |||
| 2008–2010 | HJK women | ||
| 2012–2016 | Åland United | ||
| 2021 | Finland U23 women | ||
| 2024– | IFK Mariehamn | ||
Gary Williams (born 7 December 1977) is an English professional football manager and former player who is currently the manager of Veikkausliiga club IFK Mariehamn.
Career
[edit]Williams has studied in Lindsey Wilson College in the United States and played for school's men's soccer team. Later he coached the women's and men's soccer team between 2004 and 2007.
In August 2008, he was named the head coach of HJK women,[1] leading the team to win the Finnish Women's Cup later in 2008. Previously he had coached the club's girls' youth team. He continued with the first team until the end of the 2009 season.
From 2011 to 2012, Williams worked for the youth sectors of HJK Helsinki and PK-35.
From 2013 to 2016, Williams was the manager of Åland United in the Finnish women's top-tier league, the Naisten Liiga, winning the title in 2013.[2] During 2015–2016, he also worked as an assistant coach of the Finland women's national team.[3]
From April 2017 to December 2021, Williams was the director of coaching and player development for an Åland-based club Jomala IK, continuing with IFK Mariehamn in January 2022 as talent coach and youth sports director.
On 16 August 2024, after the dismissal of Bruno Romão, Williams was named the manager of IFK Mariehamn's first team in the Veikkausliiga, the Finnish men's top-tier league.[4] In November, his contract was extended for the 2025 season.[5]
Personal life
[edit]Williams has obtained Finnish citizenship. He is married to a Finnish woman with whom he has two children.[6]
Honours
[edit]HJK women
- Finnish Women's Cup: 2008
- Naisten Liiga runner-up: 2008
Åland United
- Naisten Liiga: 2013
- Naisten Liiga runner-up: 2014
References
[edit]- ^ Gary Williams HJK:n naisten päävalmentajaksi, Yle, 26 August 2008
- ^ Williams om rollen i JIK, alandsradio.ax, 13 April 2017
- ^ GARY WILLIAMSISTA U23-NAISTEN PÄÄVALMENTAJA: "SUURI ILO JA KUNNIA", Football Association of Finland, 4 May 2021
- ^ Gary Williams IFK Mariehamnin päävalmentajaksi, Yle, 16 August 2024
- ^ IFK Mariehamn vahvisti ensi kauden valmentajansa – teki myös sopimuksen HJK:n keskikenttäpelaajan kanssa, suomifutis.com, 7 November 2024
- ^ Jakso 114: Gary Williams, Keskiympyrä, Ville Makkonen
External links
[edit]- 1977 births
- Living people
- English men's footballers
- English football managers
- Veikkausliiga managers
- Åland United managers
- Association football coaches
- Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi non-playing staff
- Chelsea F.C. players
- IFK Mariehamn managers
- English expatriate sportspeople in the United States
- English expatriate sportspeople in Finland
- Expatriate football managers in Finland
- English expatriate football managers
- Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi (women) managers