The FAI has confirmed the appointment of Lizzy Kent as its new Head of Women & Girls’ Football, a significant leadership addition as the organisation continues to implement its long-term Football Pathways Plan.

Kent is the permanent replacement for Hannah Dingley, who left the FAI earlier in the year to take up a position with Manchester City.

She is a UEFA A Licence coach who also holds a Master’s degree in Business, and will take up the role in January 2026.

She joins the FAI from South East Technological University (SETU) Novus in Waterford, where she has been a member of the Senior Management Team, bringing a blend of high-level sporting and organisational experience into the national governing body.

Kent’s involvement in football began at the grassroots level with Adamstown AFC, where she played a central role in the club’s development both on and off the pitch. That foundation led to significant coaching and leadership roles within the League of Ireland, including serving as assistant coach with Wexford during the club’s first three seasons in the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division.

She later spent three seasons as Head Coach of Wexford’s Under-17 team in the EA SPORTS LOI WU17 Academy, while also acting as interim manager of the senior side and contributing to the club’s long-term strategic direction during a formative period for women’s football in the south-east.

Kent has also accumulated extensive international experience, spending four years as Assistant Coach with the Ireland Women’s Under-19 team and playing a key role in qualification for the 2024 UEFA European WU19 Championships in Lithuania.

Her coaching background extends beyond football, having led the Wexford Ladies Gaelic Football team for four-and-a-half years, guiding them to two All-Ireland Finals and a Leinster Intermediate title.

In her new role, Kent will work closely with FAI Director of Football John Martin and oversee five Women and Girls’ Lead positions, which are currently being recruited. She will have responsibility for the continued rollout of the Women & Girls’ Action Plan under the Football Pathways Plan, ensuring that structural and developmental reforms are delivered consistently across the country.

Speaking following confirmation of her appointment, Kent said she was looking forward to building on existing progress across the game. “I’m delighted to join the FAI as Head of Women and Girls’ Football,” she said, adding that her lifelong involvement in women’s sport had shaped her commitment to advocacy and development. She highlighted collaboration as a central focus of the role, noting her intention to work closely with clubs, leagues, affiliates and stakeholders from grassroots through to the League of Ireland and international pathways.

FAI Director of Football John Martin described the appointment as a timely boost for the women’s and girls’ game, pointing to Kent’s breadth of experience across coaching, leadership and strategic development. He said her enthusiasm and understanding of the game at all levels would help elevate standards and expectations nationally at a moment of continued growth for women’s football in Ireland.

Eileen Gleason, who held this role when it was first created until taking over as Head Coach with the Republic of Ireland Women’s national Team remains part of the FAI workforce but is in dispute with the Association over the process that resulted in her not being reappointed to that position after the play off loss to Wales in attempting to qualify for the Euro 2025 Championships.

 

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